Nathan Cummins
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179 lines
8.4 KiB
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179 lines
8.4 KiB
Plaintext
---
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import aboutImage from "@assets/img/about.jpg";
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import conductingImage from "@assets/img/about/nathan-cummins-composer-orchestrator-conductor-conducting-1.jpg";
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import generalImage from "@assets/img/about/nathan-cummins-composer-orchestrator-conductor-general-1.png";
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import H2 from "@components/MDX/H2.astro";
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import Paragraph from "@components/Paragraph.astro";
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import SectionTitle from "@components/SectionTitle.astro";
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import TextLink from "@components/TextLink.astro";
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import site from "@data/site";
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import MainLayout from "@layouts/MainLayout.astro";
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import { Image } from "astro:assets";
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---
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<MainLayout title="About">
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<div class="w-full bg-white py-16 dark:bg-gray-950">
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<section id="about">
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<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-8 text-left">
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<Image
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src={aboutImage}
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alt="A photo of Nathan conducting the Woodville Concert Band"
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class="mx-auto mb-8 size-96 rounded-full object-cover drop-shadow-lg/75 transition ease-in-out md:hover:scale-150 md:hover:shadow-xl/50"
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transition:name="aboutImage"
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/>
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<SectionTitle class="py-8">Dr Nathan Cummins</SectionTitle>
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<H2>{site.tagline}</H2>
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<Paragraph
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>Nathan Cummins is a composer, orchestrator, conductor, and sound
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designer based in Adelaide, South Australia. He holds a PhD in Sonic
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Arts and Music Composition from the Elder Conservatorium of Music, and
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his work spans concert performance, video games, film scores, and
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interactive media.</Paragraph
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>
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<Paragraph
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><Image
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src={generalImage}
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alt="Nathan conducting, asking all members of the ensemble to stand for applause."
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class="mx-auto max-h-64 w-auto object-cover pb-8 md:float-right md:h-94 md:pl-8"
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layout="full-width"
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fit="cover"
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height={256}
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/>With a practice grounded in orchestral craft and enriched by
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technological innovation, Nathan creates music and sound that is
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vibrant, immersive, and deeply connected to its medium. His work
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ranges from symphonic writing and choral music through to jazz and
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electronic sound worlds.</Paragraph
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>
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<Paragraph
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>Nathan is passionate about the power of music and sound to shape
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stories, connect communities, and transform interactive experiences.
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Whether collaborating with game developers, film directors,
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choreographers, or fellow composers, he brings a combination of
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artistry, innovation, and pragmatism that makes him a versatile and
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distinctive voice in contemporary audio.</Paragraph
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>
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</div>
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</section>
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<section id="composition">
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<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-8 text-left">
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<H2>Composition</H2>
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<Paragraph
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>At the heart of Nathan's career is composition. His concert works
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have been performed by ensembles across Australia, and his music for
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video games is recognised for its distinctive voice and adaptability.</Paragraph
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>
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<Paragraph>Recent projects include:</Paragraph>
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<ul class="list-disc pl-4">
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<li>
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<span class="font-bold"
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><TextLink
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href="/projects/video-game/dungeons-and-dining-tables/"
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>
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Dungeons and Dining Tables</TextLink
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>:</span
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> a cosy, highly orchestral score full of warmth and colour.
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</li>
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<li>
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<span class="font-bold">Roc's Odyssey:</span> an edgy, symphonic metal
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soundtrack blending excitement with orchestral grandeur.
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</li>
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<li>
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<span class="font-bold">The Lion and the Mouse:</span> a narrative work
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for orchestra (or wind orchestra) that aims to teach children about music
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and the instruments of the orchestra.
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</li>
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</ul>
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<Paragraph
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>Nathan thrives on tailoring music to story and gameplay, crafting
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scores that not only support but heighten the emotional and narrative
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experience.</Paragraph
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>
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</div>
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</section>
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<section id="orchestration">
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<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-8 text-left">
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<H2>Orchestration</H2>
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<Paragraph
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>As an orchestrator, Nathan is highly sought after for his ability to
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bring clarity, energy, and colour to music across genres. His
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orchestrations have been performed and recorded internationally,
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ranging from intimate chamber textures to full symphonic works.</Paragraph
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>
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<Paragraph
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>He is also an expert in preparing scores and parts for recording
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sessions, with a focus on legibility and efficiency. By translating
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the composer's intent into clear, practical sheet music, Nathan helps
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ensembles and composers save valuable time and money while ensuring
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players can deliver their best performance.</Paragraph
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>
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</div>
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</section>
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<section id="Conducting">
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<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-8 text-left">
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<H2>Conducting</H2>
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<Paragraph
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>Nathan is a versatile conductor with specialisations in concert
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performance, video game music, and studio recording. He is one of
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Australia’s leading directors of concerts featuring video game music,
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and is equally at home on the podium of a symphonic performance or in
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the precision-driven environment of a recording session.</Paragraph
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>
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<Paragraph
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><Image
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src={conductingImage}
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alt="Nathan conducting the Woodville Concert Band, smiling while standing in front of the ensemble with his arm outstretched."
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class="mx-auto max-h-96 w-auto pb-8 md:float-left md:h-94 md:pr-8"
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layout="full-width"
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fit="cover"
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height={384}
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/>Highlights of his conducting work include <span class="italic"
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>Music With Motion</span
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>, a cross-media concert series tying the performance of video game
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music with live video projection, and <span class="italic"
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>Pixelated Symphonies</span
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>, a landmark concert with the <TextLink
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href="https://www.awo.org.au/">Adelaide Wind Orchestra</TextLink
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> that featured 14 newly commissioned video game arrangements by Nathan
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himself. His repertoire as a conductor spans contemporary media music,
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classical works, and cross-genre collaborations, always with a focus on
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clarity, energy, and connection with performers.</Paragraph
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>
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<Paragraph
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>Nathan is also the Artistic Director of the <TextLink
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href="https://www.woodvillecb.com.au/"
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>Woodville Concert Band</TextLink
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>, an active, diverse, and inclusive community ensemble of around 45
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members. Under his direction, the band has become a cultural hub,
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reflecting the motto “music played for the community, by the
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community.” Through performances that engage 8,000–9,000 community
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members annually, the ensemble promotes music education, fosters
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inclusivity, and provides a distinctive cultural offering that
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supports local industries and artists. Nathan’s leadership has been
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instrumental in shaping the band’s vision of accessibility, culture,
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and community over profit, while still maintaining high artistic
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standards.</Paragraph
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>
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</div>
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</section>
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<section id="sound">
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<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-8 text-left">
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<H2>Sound Design</H2>
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<Paragraph
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>In addition to his musical practices, Nathan is an active sound
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designer for video games. His work is highly detailed and
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project-specific, creating soundscapes that respond dynamically to
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gameplay and integrate with music.</Paragraph
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>
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<Paragraph
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>What sets Nathan apart is his ability to bridge music, sound, and
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technology. As a skilled software developer, he creates unique
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in-engine solutions for audio, and has developed his own middleware
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for FMOD that he implements across projects. This integrated approach
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allows him to deliver innovative, seamless sound design that enhances
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immersion.</Paragraph
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>
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</div>
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</section>
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</div>
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</MainLayout>
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