Nate Rensink, trombone, is a New York area freelancer and teacher with deep connections to the region. Growing up in Orange County, NY in a musical family, he realized an aptitude for music at an early age and started his studies with his father on piano. In elementary school, he began his brass journey on the euphonium. Nate achieved early recognition for his skills, and was routinely placed in all-county and other honors ensembles. Realizing in high school that he wanted to pursue a full-time music career, Nate made the decision to switch from euphonium to trombone. During his time in high school, Nate was the winner of the 2004 Young Artist competition hosted by the West Point Band (U.S.M.A.) and was a featured soloist with that ensemble. He also was enrolled at the Juilliard School’s preparatory division, where he studied with members of the New York Philharmonic.  

During his degree studies, Nate worked primarily with James Box of the Montreal Symphony at McGill University, as well as Weston Sprott of the Metropolitan Opera at Purchase College (SUNY). He had further chances to work with many of the finest brass musicians in the world in masterclass settings, including members of the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony. Nate holds an undergraduate and master’s degree from Purchase College (SUNY), and also studied at McGill University and the Boston Conservatory. 

Nate currently holds the position of principal trombone with the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra and also performs regularly with the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra and Mid-Atlantic Opera Orchestra. Nate has also performed with numerous other ensembles throughout the region, including the Adelphi Orchestra, Delaware Valley Opera, Eastern Wind Symphony, New Jersey Wind Symphony, New York Wind Symphony, Northern Duchess Symphony Orchestra, Woodstock Symphony Orchestra, and PROTESTRA.

A passionate advocate of the British Brass Banding movement, Nate has played with the Princeton Brass Band for over 10 years and is regularly featured with the band as a soloist. In addition to his playing role, he has served on the band’s Board of Trustees for over 5 years, and currently serves as the band’s president. He has also played with numerous brass bands in the region, including The Gramercy Brass Orchestra, Imperial Brass, Lambertville Brass Band, and the New York Staff Band.

As a teacher, Nate has maintained a private studio for over a decade. His students achieve consistent success, and are routinely placed in all-county and all-state ensembles, and several have gone on to continue their music educations at institutions such as Crane School of Music (SUNY) and Ithaca College. 

Nate currently lives in NJ with his fiancée Bonnie, a trumpet/cornet player and fellow self-professed brass band nerd. Outside of music, Nate maintains a career as a licensed Asbestos Investigator in New York City. He is a huge history nerd, enjoys golfing and spending time with his nephews, Liam and Killian.