Nathan Payant

Dr. Nathan Payant is a devoted conductor, music educator, and professional singer who strives to cultivate long-lasting connections with others through the choral arts. He has choral teaching and conducting experience at the middle school, high school, college, community, and professional levels. Dr. Payant is an Assistant Professor of Practice at Colorado State University, where he directs the Concert Choir, teaches conducting, as well as music education and music therapy courses. He is also the Director of Music and Arts at First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins, leading the Sanctuary Choir, Church Orchestra, and Handbell Choir. Choirs under his direction have toured nationally, as well as internationally, and have performed in world-famous venues such as Carnegie Hall and St. Peter’s Basilica.

A dedicated advocate for choral music education, Nathan is involved in NAfME, CMEA, ACDA, and CoACDA, placing special emphasis on encouraging lifelong singing. He is frequently invited to present lectures and reading sessions at state conferences, as well as visit and clinic at local high schools throughout the Front Range in Colorado. He has served on the Colorado All-State Choir Board, the Vocal Music Council of CMEA, and the Colorado ACDA Council as the Treble Choir R&R Chair. He fully believes in promoting standards of the choral repertoire, as well as discovering and supporting newly composed works.

Nathan is also an active member of the professional choral community in Colorado. In addition to his work with Laudamus Chamber Chorale, he was a Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Anima Chamber Ensemble, as well as the Chorus Personnel Manager and singer in Colorado Bach Ensemble. He also has a passion for composing/arranging and has several choral arrangements published through Hal Leonard Publishing.

A native of South Dakota, Nathan is a proud alumnus of Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree. He received his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Colorado State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting and Literature from University of Colorado, Boulder. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Nathan enjoys coffee, traveling, and spending time with his beautiful wife, Natalie, and three daughters, Faythe, Ava, and Lilian.