Nathan Avakian


Nathan Avakian is an eighteen-year-old theatre organist from Portland, Oregon.  He is the 2009 overall winner of the ATOS Young Theatre Organist Competition.  Nathan’s fascination with the theatre organ began at age four, with a visit to the Portland Organ Grinder Restaurant.  He began formal organ studies with Donna Parker at age eleven and is also frequently coached by Jonas Nordwall.  Nathan enjoys arranging, composing, and transcribing music. 


He has given concerts in Oregon and Washington for organizations including the Columbia River Theatre Organ Society (CRTOS), Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society (PSTOS), Mount Baker Theatre Organ Society, and the Portland Rose Festival Association.  Nathan is extremely grateful for scholarships from ATOS, CRTOS, and PSTOS, which have helped to fund his lessons and trips to organ workshops in Colorado, Illinois, and Phoenix, as well as the 2009 ATOS Convention.
Nathan is a high school senior at the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy (ACMA), where he is a member of the National Honor Society, the ACMA Theatre Ensemble and the ACMA Advanced Vocal Ensemble.  He is a dedicated actor and has trained with Westside Dance Academy since he was five years old in various styles of dance including tap, jazz, and ballet.  In addition to acting, singing, and dancing, Nathan has technical theatre interest and experience in lighting design. As a musician, Nathan’s mission is to showcase the versatility of the theatre organ by playing music from a diverse variety of eras and styles.  Nathan hopes to promote interest in the theatre organ among people of all ages to ensure that the instrument is preserved and kept alive for future generations.

Nathan Avakian
17915 NW Lonerock Dr. Portland, OR 97229
(503) 347-0278
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