Student Profile: Natalia Warthen, Concerto Competition Winner
Natalia Warthen, a 2024 winner of Northwestern's Concerto Competition, recently sat down for an interview about her upcoming concert. Natalia will be playing Paul Creston's Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Op. 26 with the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.
Profile by Sophia Gutierrez.
What first sparked your interest in music? What was it about the saxophone that ultimately made it your instrument of choice?
My dad was in marching band in both high school and college, and had always encouraged me to be surrounded by music in some way or another. There was always something playing in my house–whether it be my dad strumming his guitar, playing the piano in our living room, or croaking out some Simon & Garfunkel tune. I started the way most kids do with piano lessons, which I never appreciated until I was older and had to read music and play the saxophone at the same time in middle school (which felt like the hardest thing I ever had to do at the time). My dad encouraged me to pick up percussion when we chose our instruments in 6th grade, since he was a percussionist as a kid and was always banging on the drum kit in our basement. My mom definitely didn’t want this to happen! I ended up choosing randomly, and went for the saxophone. I can’t remember what drew me towards the horn back then, but it ended up clicking pretty well immediately. I remember distinctly that I was always going over the fingerings to our major scales in every class–drumming out G Major with my fingertips in biology until each finger moved right when I wanted it to. I think it was the challenge and puzzle of the instrument that really made me want to keep going.
As you move forward in your musical career, what aspects of your time at Bienen do you think will stay with you the most?
The academic and musical rigor will definitely stick with me most. Since day one, I’ve felt inspired by my peers at NU, even those I’ve never talked to. I feel like I walk by practice rooms every day and hear the eternal grind of students wanting to succeed–something that can be very easily taken for granted when you focus so much on your own individual preparation as a musician. Hearing every student’s successes here (as well as the failures and bumps in the road, and how to get past them) has truly raised the bar at which I hold myself. I feel very grateful for the amazing musicians I’ve come into contact with while studying at Bienen.
How did you prepare for your performance of Paul Creston's Concerto for Alto Saxophone? How have you personalized this piece to make it your own?
I’ve been playing Creston’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Op. 26, for over a year now–probably the longest I’ve ever truly studied a piece. It’s been monumentally rewarding but also somewhat challenging to study something from the saxophone’s repertoire for this long. In one way, I do find myself interpreting certain phrases and musical ideas differently. It’s also gotten exceedingly easier to just return to the piece without nearly as much work, which feels amazing. I still remember starting the piece around October 2023 and struggling with some of the tempos and finger-twisting licks – though don’t get me wrong my fingers still feel like they’re getting twisted daily with Creston. I think I’ve personalized this piece primarily through my individual sound. I want to leave listeners in the first movement feeling all of the emotions I’m feeling through the music: anger, pain, joy, power… The list goes on and on! Some of this music really jumps out of the page, and I’m hoping that my sound and my own emotions help that transfer from the music stand to audiences' ears and hearts.
Do you have any musical idols or influences who have shaped your playing? What's your favorite piece of music?
Definitely! I will always be influenced by people who have good sound, and care deeply about their sound. This is such a challenge to say while still studying my instrument, because I know I have many days where I’m not proud of my own sound. But it’s always helpful for me to look up to those in the past and present who care so greatly about the music they make. Some of these people include Taimur Sullivan (my teacher), Steven Banks (NU saxophone alum), Stevie Nicks, Nina Simone, Mallory Thompson (former NU Director of Bands), Martha Argerich, Fazil Say, Jacqueline du Pré, Kenny Garrett, and Beyoncé. There are so many more but I often feel inspired by these people!
My favorite piece of music is tough… so I’ll pick one that can be related to the Creston Concerto in some way. I really adore Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85, – a piece that most musicians and people in general have heard at least once in their lives. Like Creston (and many concertos throughout history) it begins with a passionate entrance from the soloist. The beginning of this work has truly inspired me in my own performances to continue to strive for musical moments that are filled to the brim with emotion.
Can you share a memorable moment, experience, or anecdote that had an impact on your development as a musician?
One of my favorite musical memories revolves around performances of one of my favorite pieces of all time, Pines of Rome. My appreciation for the piece began at Interlochen Arts Camp, which I attended one summer in high school. I remember wandering over to the outdoor amphitheater in the mornings to listen to the top orchestra rehearse, usually with french toast sticks or whatever else was being served for breakfast. That piece was one of my first instances of being exposed to high caliber music and playing, as well as a high bar for excellence from such young people. Flash forward to last year's first Symphonic Wind Ensemble rehearsal, when I found out we'd be playing the band arrangement of Pines of Rome with MBT's [Mallory Thompson’s] last opening concert before her retirement! I felt honored and ecstatic to be playing such a deeply meaningful piece, for both myself and her (as well as everyone else in the ensemble). Even the first rehearsal felt so important--more than I can put into words. There was a certain feeling in the air of the value in this moment, and of all of our roles in putting it together. I don't think I've ever felt the true history and depth of a work before that point in my life. And then flash forward one more time (last time I promise)--to when I saw the Chicago Symphony Orchestra play the backing track of Fantasia live. I spontaneously decided to go with a friend despite the steep ticket prices and the fact that I had never seen the movie. I learned pretty soon into the concert that this soundtrack contains some of the greatest hits of classical music, including Pines of Rome. I was so ecstatic! It felt like a culmination of my love for the piece, and I got to consume it in what could be considered the highest caliber possible. Taking it in as an audience member the second time made me realize how much I've grown as a musician, while also still loving and cherishing the exact same things as 15-year-old me.
What's a fun fact about yourself (it can be music related or non-music related)?
I’m half Polish and I’m currently working on a saxophone database with music composed by Polish musicians! Shoutout to my professor [Taimur Sullivan] for helping me create this niche database!
Who are the people that have most inspired or influenced your musical journey so far?
I’ve always been continuously inspired by the musicians that surround me. From freshman year of college to now, I’ve found that music making (especially in academia) is all about surrounding yourself with people that push your limits. I feel like every year I’ve met a new person who challenges me or inspires me to start thinking about music in a new way. It’s sometimes uncomfortable to be introduced to concepts or knowledge you’re not familiar with, but I’ve found that this is when I feel most musically inspired.