Roy Nathanson

Roy Nathanson is a Part-Time Faculty member at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. A multifaceted artist, he is renowned as a jazz saxophonist, composer, poet, and educator. His career spans over three decades, highlighted by leadership of The Jazz Passengers and Sotto Voce, bands exploring intersections of music and text. Nathanson holds a B.A. in Jazz Composition and Performance from SUNY Empire State College (1999) and an M.F.A. in Poetry from New England College (2007). His work includes commissioned pieces for institutions like the University of Wisconsin's Science Museum and NPR, alongside collaborations with artists such as Elvis Costello and Jeff Buckley. Awards include the Bessie Award, Joseph Jefferson Award, and multiple grants from NYFA and Chamber Music America. He has taught at institutions including UC Berkeley and New York City’s Institute for Collaborative Education, and his archives are permanently housed at NYU’s Fales Library.

Education:

• B.A., Jazz Composition and Performance, SUNY Empire State College, 1999
• M.F.A., Poetry, New England College, 2007

Nathanson’s research interests revolve around the fusion of poetry and music, particularly in urban spaces like New York’s subway system, as exemplified in his poetry collection Subway Moon. His interdisciplinary approach bridges performance art, literary creation, and community engagement through his non-profit Subway Moon initiative, connecting teenage musicians with professional artists. Recent projects include film scores for Raising Victor Vargas and reimagined soundtracks for classic films like Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Awards & Grants:

• New York Foundation for the Arts Composing Awards (2)
• Chamber Music America Award
• Bessie Award
• Joseph Jefferson Award
• Rockefeller Foundation Grant
• NPR Commission

Teaching & Outreach: Nathanson has advised youth in improvisation and songwriting for over a decade, including a 12-year tenure leading the music department at New York City’s Institute for Collaborative Education. His pedagogical philosophy emphasizes collaborative creativity and public art accessibility.

Labs/Teams: Leads The Jazz Passengers and Sotto Voce ensembles, fostering cross-disciplinary projects with theater, film, and literary collaborators like David Cale and Chantal Akerman.