Nathan Cheung

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Nathan Cheung is known for his versatility as a concert pianist, composer, improviser, and educator. These roles are fueled by a desire to understand the power of great music and use it to resonate with people from all walks of life. His performance career has taken him to 10 countries and over 30 US states. 

Nathan has won top prizes in over 15 international and national competitions which include 1st prizes in the 2019 Los Angeles International Piano Competition and 2025 Chicago International Music Competition. Top prizes were also won in the Seattle, Wideman, and Heida Hermanns International Piano Competitions. A daring recitalist, he is known to push the bounds of the conventional piano recital with an infusion of classics, jazz-inspired works, virtuoso arrangements, original compositions, improvisation, and rare gems in the repertoire. He also concertizes regularly with Eric Tran as Happy Dog Duo and won the 2017 Ellis Duo Piano Competition and the 2018 inaugural MTNA Stecher-Horowitz Two Piano Competition. 

Nathan appears frequently in concert with international artists and accomplished faculty at top music institutions. He has held staff positions at Vanderbilt University, Indiana University, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival, as well as collaborative piano fellowships at Music Academy of the West, SongFest, and the Aspen Music Festival. 

As a composer, Nathan has had his compositions performed at the International College Music Society Conference and his String Quartet premiered by the St. Lawrence String Quartet. A rare recipient of Eastman’s Advanced Diploma in the Art of Improvisation, Nathan draws from an eclectic array of styles in his improvisations and gladly welcomes all requests for Happy Birthday in the key and style of their choice.  

A sought-after educator and adjudicator, Nathan has had students win national competitions and has given masterclasses around the country. He has also adjudicated for the Knoxville International Piano Competition, Seattle International Bach Competition, and United States Open Music Competition.

He received a DMA and two MM degrees from the Eastman School of Music, as well as a BA in Music from Stanford University. His primary teachers were Natalya Antonova, Jean Barr, Nelita True, and Thomas Schultz.  

Currently, Nathan is an Instructor of Collaboration at Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music and was previously a Visiting Assistant Professor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He continues to perform frequently, both locally and abroad.