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A Texas native with international roots, Nathaniel Mayfield received his education at The Juilliard School, Columbia University, Interlochen Arts Academy, Tanglewood Institute, and the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, Germany. After a nomination "for exceptional artistic achievement" by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts (NFAA), "for holding to the very highest of academic standards" by the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Richard Riley, Nathaniel was selected by President Clinton's White House Commission on Presidential Scholars to receive the Presidential Scholar Medallion in 1994. This award is presented to 20 artists each year in recognition of "demonstrated leadership ability, strong character and commitment to high ideals."

Upon graduating from a joint program between Columbia University and The Juilliard School (student of Raymond Mase, Chairman of Brass Department), Nathaniel was chosen as a J. William Fulbright scholar to pursue post-graduate work on trumpet performance with Professor Reinhold Friedrich in Karlsruhe, Germany. Inspired to learn the rediscovered baroque trumpet, he has presented baroque trumpet masterclasses at such institutions as The Juilliard School, Baylor School of Music, Eastman School of Music, Texas Christian University, Laval University (Quebec), Lausanne Conservatory (Switzerland), Emory and Henry College, Texas A&M Kingsville, St. Mary's College, Loyola University, and others. He is a faculty member at Domaine Forget Music Institute (Quebec), and also Instructor of Trumpet at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Equally proficient on the baroque trumpet, Nathaniel has appeared as an invited guest artist at the International Trumpet Guild, as well as Historic Brass Adjudicator at the National Trumpet Competition in Washington, D.C.

Nathaniel has won numerous musical competitions (modern trumpet), including the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, the National Trumpet Competition, the Aspen Festival Brass Concerto Competition, and the Yamaha Young Artist Competition. His orchestral experience includes participation as a fellow with the National Repertory Orchestra, the Pacific Music Festival Japan, and the Round Top Institute, as well as concerts with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, Mannheim National Theatre, Singapore Symphony, Austin Symphony Orchestra and Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, San Antonio Opera, and Victoria Bach Festival. Other influential teachers include Chris Gekker, Mark Gould, Stephen Burns, Markus Stockhausen, Edward Carroll, Thomas Stevens, Ray Crisara, Jimmy Shortell, and John Lindenau.

After returning to Texas from abroad, Nathaniel was appointed Director of Music for The Austin School for the Performing and Visual Arts (www.theaustinschool.org), and also Executive Director for the Austin Brass Center, both 501-C3 non-profit organizations. Along with trumpet virtuosi Paul Merkelo and Rex Richardson, he is one of the three trumpeters in "NEXT Ensemble," an international group that incorporates baroque, jazz and classical/romantic trumpet in contemporary/experimental settings. A firm believer in expanding the trumpet repertoire, Nathaniel has premiered and recorded works by composers Eric Ewazen, James Stephenson, Eric McIntyre, P.K. Waddle, and Filip Sande of Norway.

While not traveling, Nathaniel calls his native city of Austin home, where he lives with his wife, Ulrike. He can be contacted anytime through his website, www.natemayfield.com.