About

Natalie Stepaniak is a versatile violist, scholar, and arts administrator dedicated to advancing the sustainability and relevance of the arts through innovative interdisciplinary collaborations. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts with a minor in Arts Administration from Louisiana State University, where her dissertation, Harmony in Collaboration: Curating Sustainability in Post-Pandemic Arts, explored the transformative potential of combining diverse artistic disciplines. She is originally from the Denver-Boulder area of Colorado and is currently based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Natalie Stepaniak's artistic journey has been shaped by the mentorship of several influential figures. Her passion for the viola was first nurtured by Laura McDermott, a Suzuki methods expert and violist who has taught in the Denver area for over 20 years, with many of her students receiving accolades. During her undergraduate studies at the University of Northern Colorado, Natalie studied under Christopher Luther and Leilehua Lanzilotti. Her global perspective on music was broadened through studying abroad at Mahidol University College of Music in Thailand, where she was part of the studio of Daniel Keasler, principal violist of the Thailand Philharmonic.  While pursuing her doctoral studies at Louisiana State University, Natalie refined her technique under the guidance of Kimberly Sparr.

Throughout her career, Natalie has championed the power of collaboration to foster community development and artistic growth. She has performed works by renowned composers such as Garth Knox, Ken Ueno, Andrew Norman, Dai Fujikura, and Anna Thorvaldsdottir, bringing their compositions to life in performances that have captivated audiences.  Natalie has closely collaborated with composers such as Drew Farrar, Connor Leigh Shaw, and Delanie Molnar, among others, further enriching her artistic journey and supporting her fellow artists. Additionally, her artistic development has been deeply influenced by Pulitzer Prize Finalist and multi-media artist Leilehua Lanzilotti. These experiences have made Natalie a versatile and innovative artist, dedicated to bridging art forms across mediums and making the arts accessible to her community.

Natalie has extensive experience in performing works that integrate fixed media and live electronic processing, expanding the traditional boundaries of viola performance. Her work in this area not only pushes the limits of her instrument but also creates immersive soundscapes that engage audiences in new and unexpected ways. These performances reflect her commitment to exploring the intersection of acoustic and electronic music, and her ability to seamlessly blend these elements in live settings.

Natalie’s artistic journey has been enriched by fellowships at prestigious music festivals, including the Next Festival for Emerging Artists, where she was a Fellow for three consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2022. At the Montecito International Music Festival in 2019, she showcased her talents as both a composer and performer, and in 2018, she participated as a composer and performer at the Arts Letters & Numbers festival. These experiences have provided Natalie with valuable opportunities to collaborate with leading artists and composers, further honing her skills and expanding her creative horizons.

A significant part of Natalie's interdisciplinary work has been her collaboration with the Baton Rouge Gallery (BRG), where she designed a recital to complement the art on exhibition, highlighting the musician-curator's influence on creating a more immersive arts experience. Following the EAR|EYE model, the recital included a pre-performance talk on how the solo viola pieces aligned with the artworks on display, focusing on relatable subjects and light comparative analysis. The intention was to invite the audience to engage with the art in ways they might not have done before. This project advanced interdisciplinary art and deepened connections between the community and artists.

Her extensive experience spans teaching, arts administration, and performance. As a violist, Natalie has performed with several esteemed ensembles, including the Rapides Symphony Orchestra and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. She was also a composer-performer for UNCOmmon Ensemble and a founding member of Sonic Harvest, a chamber orchestra dedicated to performing new local works in the Northern Colorado region.

Natalie's contributions to the arts have been recognized with awards like the BGSU College of Musical Arts Dean’s Service Award and the UNCO Arts Innovation Award. The Arts Innovation Award is a cross-disciplinary creative competition for performing and visual arts at the University of Northern Colorado, designed to encourage collaboration across these fields. Natalie's winning submission, "Enigma for solo viola and electronics triggered by tarantula," introduced a non-human "performer" as an element of organic improvisation and collaboration, highlighting her innovative approach to performance and composition. She has also presented at the 44th and 48th International Viola Congresses, further emphasizing her commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive cultural landscape.

Driven by a desire to effect positive societal transformations, Natalie encourages active participation in interdisciplinary collaborations. She believes that by embracing the ethos of collaboration, individuals and organizations can create a thriving cultural ecosystem characterized by diversity, creativity, and meaningful engagement. Through her work, Natalie continues to inspire others to join her in shaping a future where the arts serve as a lasting conduit for dialogue, empathy, and collective enrichment.