Nathaniel O’Neal is the World Percussion Director at DuPont Hadley Middle School in Old Hickory, Tennessee. He teaches middle school students the fundamentals of music through the study of African Diasporic music. Students in the World Percussion Program can participate in multiple ensembles, including Steel Band, Brazilian Samba Bateria, Ghanaian Djembe Ensemble, and Puerto Rico Plena Ensemble. The DuPont Hadley Steel Band has performed many concerts for the community, including collaborative concerts with Vanderbilt Steel Band and W.O. Smith Steel Band.

Nathaniel completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he studied with Dr. Julie Hill, Dr. Shane Jones, Dr. Josh Smith, and Dr. Dan Piccolo. Nathaniel completed his master’s degree in music education from Middle Tennessee State University, where he studied from Dr. Christopher Dye, Dr. Vannetta-Hall, and Dr. Jamila McWhirter.

Nathaniel studied abroad in many countries during his collegiate career. He studied the history and culture of the steel band in Trinidad & Tobago in 2016. He performed and competed in the St. Lucia Panorama, where his band, Laborie Stee Band, placed second out of ten bands. Nathaniel also studied djembe and gyil technique at the Dagara School of Music in Ghana. 

Nathaniel is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society and the National Society of Steel Band Educators.

Nathaniel currently resides in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Nathaniel is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.