Cruising the World With Music

Mar 01, 2011

nate A Concordia degree turned into a ticket around the world for one graduate.

Nathan Hance ’10 embarked on a nontraditional career path, applying to play piano on a cruise ship. After playing aboard a Holland America cruise ship to Alaska last summer, he received an offer to travel on the 112-day Grand World Voyage.

Hance set sail in January and will have seen more than 30 countries and all seven continents by the time he arrives in the United States in April. For this music theory and composition graduate, this is the best of both worlds.

“I’ve always liked seeing the world,” says Hance, “and at the same time, I get to play music.”

Hance plays keyboard and piano with the HAL Cats, Holland America’s show band, as well as accompanying the Broadway-style shows and playing for private parties.  He has also been asked to arrange jazz charts and pop tunes for various ensembles on the ship.

One of his favorite aspects has been playing with the world-class musicians from all over the globe. Some of the crew members have come from as far away as Ukraine, Mexico, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Another perk of playing on board is seeing the sights. Hance has climbed many mountains, snorkeled among fish and coral, walked on beautiful beaches and petted kangaroos.

Hance isn’t sure how long he will continue to play on cruise ships, but he hopes to do another around-the-world cruise next year.

Watch the video.
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Cruising the World with Music

Nathan Hance has taken his music on the water performing with a jazz ensemble on a cruise ship.

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