Life & Work with Nathanael Smith of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathanael Smith.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Stone Mountain, GA, started piano lesson when I was 6 years old and continued to play all the way through high school. I went on to receive a BM in jazz performance from Florida State University and a MM in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University. During that time, I performed regularly as a professional pianist playing at venues such as B Sharps Jazz Cafe, Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, Redlight Cafe, and The Velvet Note. In March of 2024 I released my debut album titled Missing Piece and in October of that same year joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra. I toured nationally and internationally as a full time member of the group from October of 2024 until January of 2026. Since then I’ve continued to teach lessons and perform regularly while being based in Atlanta.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in 2020, the world was on lockdown because of the pandemic. That made it really difficult because everyone wants to start their career off strong to a certain degree, but there were almost no gigs or performance opportunities available. It was understandable because we all wanted to keep from getting sick, but it was a very hard time for people entering the work force, especially music. Everything slowly got back to normal, but it took around 4 or 5 years for the music scene to feel like it did before the pandemic and for all the music opportunities to return.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional pianist. While I do play multiple genres of music, I specialize in jazz and am best known for that. What I’m most proud of is my first album that I was able to release a couple years ago. It was a dream of mine to release an album that would forever be a part of the music world, so that was a huge accomplishment for me. I believe what sets me apart is my love for piano trios. All of my favorite pianist have their own piano trio where they get to truly express themselves on the instrument. That’s the format that love to play in that allows me to express myself to the fullest to the audience and my bandmates.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I play shows consistently, especially in the Atlanta area. If you want to stay updated on shows you can sign up for my email list on my website. You can also stay updated by following me on instagram and social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nsmith-music.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsmith_music/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NathanaelJSmith7
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nsmith_music