Name: Nicholas Hatt

Graduation Year: 2013

Degree(s) Received: Bachelor of Music in Performance (Violin)

Why did you choose to attend WVU?

I was looking for a university that had both a strong orchestra program and a violin instructor who would push me to achieve my musical goals. I first visited West Virginia University as a participant of the WVU High School Honors Orchestra, and I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Mikylah Myers and Dr. Mitchell Arnold before the audition process my senior year. The program at WVU checked off a lot of boxes, in terms of what I felt was important for an undergraduate pursing a music degree. I found that Dr. Myers was an incredibly inspiring violinist/teacher, and Dr. Arnold was pushing the WVUSO in an exciting direction. I knew that WVU would be the place for me to build a foundation for a career in music.

What is your profession now?

I just graduated with my Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University and am currently based in Tallahassee, Florida. I am a section violinist performing in The Villages Philharmonic, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and Panama City Pops. I also maintain a small private studio, in between traveling.

What is your most interesting current/upcoming project?

Outside of freelancing, I am currently working towards goals and projects with my newly formed chamber ensemble, the Velox Quartett, which is a piano quartet made up of current and former students from Florida State University and the Glenn Gould School of Music.

How do you feel WVU and the College of Creative Arts prepared you for your career?

Foremost, the School of Music is definitely an institution that values its undergraduate students, and it rewards those who have the drive to push themselves, regardless of rank. I often reflect on the many wonderful performing and leadership opportunities I had at WVU. In fact, a substantial amount of the repertoire that I learned, as well as principal opportunities in the WVUSO, were mostly from my undergraduate degree. WVU has a fabulous string area and orchestra program. I have had so many positive influences from former instructors and coaches, who each influenced some aspect of my musicianship and helped lay the foundation for a successful career. The faculty have nothing but the best interests at heart for their students, and my experience at WVU helped me to be the best version of myself that I could achieve.