SAUL SPADY

From Apple fanboy to the youngest tenured member of the Seattle Symphony

Mar 29, 2019, 8:25 AM | Updated: 11:13 am

Nathan Chan is a cellist who was performing Mozart at age 3. He has an econ degree from Columbia, and graduated from Juilliard School of Music in New York City. He is the youngest tenured member of the Seattle Symphony.

Now, Nathan is Entrepreneur of the Week on the Saul Spady Show.

“Most people don’t really associate musicians as being business-oriented, but I had a very interesting predicament growing up in that that I was a very big Apple fanboy,” Nathan explained.

Daron Casey, KTTH

Nathan really wanted the latest iPhone. He was fascinated with the technology, but his parents wanted him to pay for it himself.

“So pulled up GarageBand and I said ‘you know what, I have that’s some skill as a musician,'” he recalled. “And so I recorded a Super Mario Brothers theme song remixed for cello and I put that on iTunes and I actually created a data spreadsheet and sold enough of that song — 99 cents at a time — and I bought it.”

RELATED: Seattle business Stone N’ Seed Wearable Art
RELATED: Why this 26 year old has never made a resume

“It was after that I realized, if you go from idea to execution you can really kind of get what you want; if you take your skill-set and put it together in a way that works — (since) I’m a professional musician people will buy my stuff.”

Nathan’s love of technology remains, and so did his love of music. He has 6.1 million views on YouTube. He became a member of the Seattle Symphony at age 23.

“The thing about being a professional musician now is I’m less motivated by the financial incentives of doing a certain project,” he said. “I’m motivated by the artistic fulfillment that I can get out of something and so I’m always weighing the benefits of the financial gain, but also what really makes me happy as a musician — and that’s, you know, playing for folks like you.”

Do you know any Seattle area entrepreneurs that we should have on the show? Comment below and let us know!

Listen to the Saul Spady Show weekdays from 6-9 a.m. on AM 770 KTTH.

Saul Spady

Marijuana, washington state, drug possession...

Saul Spady

Dear Mr. President: Legalize it

The best way for President Trump to guarantee his reelection in 2020: Legalize marijuana, and watch the flood of the support that follows.

4 years ago

coroanvirus fear, coronavirus, Trump...

Saul Spady Show

Haynes: Coronavirus concerns weigh on US health and economy

Concerns related to the spread of coronavirus are evident across the nation, as both Washington state and the White House look for answers.

4 years ago

Facebook political ads...

Saul Spady

Spady: Facebook gag on political ads is biggest enemy of rational opposition

Facebook's ban on advertising for political candidates in our state is a little more than response to an irrational lawsuit from our tort happy attorney general.

4 years ago

Daron Casey

Casey: Limbaugh’s announcement sparks disheartening response online

Rush Limbaugh is a human being, and a legend of his medium. Agree with him or not, he does his job masterfully, and that should be recognized.

4 years ago

Coronavirus...

Saul Spady Show

Haynes: Coronavirus spurring protests, unrest across China

Hospital workers, citizens, and more have spoken out against China's handling of the mysterious coronavirus spreading across the globe.

4 years ago

China, coronavirus...

Saul Spady Show

Haynes: China reels as world works to stem spread of mysterious coronavirus

As China works to learn more about the spread of a mysterious coronavirus, international concern begins to grow across the globe.

4 years ago

From Apple fanboy to the youngest tenured member of the Seattle Symphony