NATHAN KEEFER
CELLO
Nathaniel (Nathan) Keefer was born in Arlington, Texas and began playing the cello at the age of four as a student of Joanne Erwin in the Suzuki program. At age 9, he began studying cello with Mrs. Mary Maneikis. He studied with Mrs. Maneikis till the age of 14 when he began studying with Dr. Elizabeth Morrow at the University of Texas at Arlington.
As a student at Bailey Junior High, he was excited to be a member of the BJH Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Mrs. Amanda Musser. In 1995, he was the cello section leader for the TMEA JH/MS Honor Orchestra. Nathan has known Mrs. Musser his entire life and continues to be a huge inspiration.
The next year, Nathan finally became a cellist in the orchestra he grew up watching his entire life, the Arlington High School Symphony Orchestra. Being a part of such an incredible program under the direction of his mother, Linda Keefer, was one of the greatest times of his life. As a cellist in high school, Nathan was a member of the Region V All Region Orchestra each year, the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, and the 1998 Texas All State Philharmonic Orchestra.
Following high school, Nathan went to college to study at Northwestern State University and then the University of Texas at Arlington with his old teacher and mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Morrow. He has performed with the Shreveport Symphony, South Arkansas Symphony, and the Las Colinas Symphony.
In 2004, Nathan came together with his friends Drew Johnson, Andrew Walton, Neil Gilfillan, and Brandon Vanderford to form The 440 Alliance cello rock quartet