We love to recognize our #OCSAlumni and our #WPHSAlumni! We will be sending out our May update in two weeks, and we want to take a moment to do an #AlumniSpotlight on Wheeling Park High School’s Class of 2005, Nate Strasser.
From grades k-2, Strasser attended Park View Elementary. “It was awesome because it was walkable from my home and so close in fact that I could hear my dog barking when I was outside during recess! After Steenrod Elementary School was built, I went there for grades 3-5.”
Strasser then attended Triadelphia Middle School followed by Wheeling Park High School. “It’s insane that we are coming up on our 20-year reunion. It feels like yesterday!”
Strasser was heavily involved in the arts during his time in OCS. “I was definitely very involved in the terrific fine arts programs offered at Park. I was in the choir, jazz band, strings, musical theater, speech team, and I also played soccer and tennis for a portion of my time there.”
Much of his experience with Ohio County has helped influence who Strasser is today: “OCS helped in so many ways! OCS taught me the importance of hard work and preparation, dedication to my craft, and ORGANIZATION (still working on that one😀). I hold the faculty in such high regard for always going above and beyond and pouring so much of their time and energy into me. I also have very dear lifelong friendships with some of my classmates thanks to so many wonderful years in OCS.”
And currently?
“I live in Nashville, TN working as a pianist, composer, and music director. I’ve had the awesome opportunity to work as the pianist for various TV shows for Netflix and Apple TV including “Franklin” starring Michael Douglas and “Emily in Paris” as well as many blockbuster films such as “Harriet” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” the Whitney Houston biopic. I also orchestrated a film for Oscar-winning composter Carter Burwell entitled “The Finest Kind” starring Tommy Lee Jones and Jake Gyllenhaal. It’s streaming now on Paramount Plus! Look for me in the end credits!” states Strasser.
In addition to the above, Strasser is currently a professor at Belmont University in Nashville and will spend two weeks this summer in Whales and London music directing a brand new musical written by Grammy-winning composer Marcus Hummon entitled “No Man’s Land.” Be on the lookout for it in the coming year!
Strasser adds, “As a concert composer, I had the enormous honor to compose a symphonic work for the Wheeling Symphony’s 90th anniversary and will debut a new composition at the Navy Pier in Chicago this summer that will be synchronized with a live fireworks show…
Speaking of fireworks, I recently played piano for the new fireworks show that runs nightly at Disneyworld’s Epcot. As a lover of all things Disney, that was extra special for me.”
Thank you Nate! We are so proud of our #OCSAlumni and the #ArtsinOCS!
Do you have a great alumni story? Want to share what you’re up to now? Reach out to WPHSAlumniWV@wphs.Ohio.k12.wv.us. We’d love to hear from you!