Nathaniel Wolkstein on SoundBetter

Full-time composer, classically trained violinist/violist, arranger and producer who has worked with Sony Music, Universal Music Group, Netflix, MTV and collaborated with Billboard Hot 100 artists. Primary instruments are the violin and viola and also utilizes the piano, cello, percussion, electric and acoustic guitar and electric bass.

I am a professional violinist, multi-instrumentalist, orchestral arranger and composer, session musician, and producer. For the last 10 years, I have collaborated with both independent and artists on major labels (Sony Music and Universal Music Group), and have composed original music for film, television, video games, content creators, ads and everything in between. With 20+ years of classical music training, professional orchestral playing and songwriting experience, I have the ability to musically shape-shift across genres, utilizing live instruments to create unique and memorable sounds.

"Moving, inventive and consistently exhibiting a talented musical sensitivity. Outstanding musicality and expertise performing in many musical styles."

— Michael Tilson Thomas
11-Time Grammy Award Winning Conductor
Music Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony and the New World Symphony
Conductor Laureate of the London Symphony Orchestra

"Outstanding, creative violinist and talented composer who delivers excellent musical results. Versatile and expressive with an ear for catchy melodies."

— Jorge Meijia
CEO and President of Sony/ATV Latin and U.S. Latin Publishing

For more music samples and information visit NathanielWolkstein.com
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Credits

269 Reviews - 35 Repeat Clients

Endorse Nathaniel Wolkstein

by Art S.
Verified
Another great string section from Nathaniel!
by Art S.
Verified
Great work, as always! Beautiful string section. Thanks, Nathaniel.
by Art S.
Verified
Nathaniel's work is excellent. He is also a great communicator and very responsive. Will work with him again!
by Arianna O'Dell
Verified
Nathaniel is the best - you won't regret working with him on your project. He'll make it sound super amazing!
by Arianna O'Dell
Verified
Super amazing string arrangment!! He's the best.
by NICOPOP
Verified
What a pro! Nathaniel was a breeze to work with. He really understood the vibe I was going for and delivered right away! Can't wait to work with him on another project
by Arrik B.
Verified
Nathaniel is so kind, so talented, so professional yet feels like a friend. I've been working with him for a couple years now, and he continues to impress me and take my songs to places I didn't know they could be. If you're looking for someone to help you with strings, look no further.
by Jared Hopkins
Verified
Nathaniel did great! I am a returning customer, so it was really nice to pick up where we left off and get to know each other a little better.

The stems were clean and organized in a clear way. It was easy to drag and drop them into the mix, and keep chugging away on the project! Great musical performances all around and clear communication throughout.
by Brandon G.
Verified
The best... will be back!
by John T.
Verified
Incredible job! Easy to work with!
by John T.
Verified
Best Composer and violinist you can work with. He is amazing at communication and always overs deliver. I have been collaborating with Nathaniel for 3 years now. He always gets it first try! I highly recommend.
by Peter
Verified
Great strings!
by Justh
Verified
Nathaniel is a top tier musician. It was a pleasure to work with him. He is a kind human being and he brought an immaculate feel to his playing of the violin, viola and cello.
by LUCA POLIZZI
Verified
Phenomenal musician... Delivered a high quality recording on a tight deadline. The strings came out exactly how I envisioned them. I highly recommend collaborating with Nathaniel. I plan to do more music together after this experience.
5/5
by Kyle Kirkpatrick
Verified
I love working with Nathan! He is very professional, can turn around projects quickly, and is a great communicator. I'll most definitely be working with him again.
by Marco P.
Verified
Amazing musician. Do not look further.
by Arrik B.
Verified
Such an incredible artist and instrumentist!! 10/10!!
by Arianna O'Dell
Verified
Great mastering job - recommend Nathaniel for all your music needs!
by Bobby John
Verified (Client)
Nathaniel is a SUPER PRO!!! Amazing track to work with, clear instruction, super awesome vibe, mega talent, and the nicest human ever :) Would work with any day and you should too! Easy 6/5!!
by Andy Blunda
Verified
Excellent violinist and violist. Was able to provide the strings tracks I needed in a short amount of time. Highly recommend!

Interview with Nathaniel Wolkstein

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: In addition to all my clients, I'm working on my solo project "Just Nathaniel", which you can find on Spotify or Apple Music. https://open.spotify.com/artist/4T2hvvBhDw7uBtB3e1ckvB?si=dvedlryxQqOP1YCWPvuniA
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: You will be 100% happy and excited by what I come up with. I've worked with over 450 clients in-studio and remotely, and I've never had anyone walk away not excited and happy about what I brought to their song or production.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: The first thing I do with all clients is to listen. I like to listen and hear about exactly what YOU are trying to get out of your project, and what you would like out of our collaboration. I have 20 years of classical training and professional orchestral experience, so I have spent a great deal of time learning to listen, mold myself, and help others sound and be their best. Most of the time I am recording lush strings parts, along with solo string parts to really create a sonic experience of an orchestra, string quartet or solo string instrument.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: 20+ years of professional orchestral performing experience and a very intensive classical training my entire life.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Since I'm a classically trained violinist and musician of more than 20 years, I've been exposed to nearly all kinds of music and have a fluency and understanding that enables me to be the perfect working partner on any genre including pop, rock, EDM, jazz, folk, classical, cinematic, hip hop, rap and more!
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My violin is made by Thomas Oliver Croen, a three-time gold medal winner of the International Violin Society of America annual competition. My violin and viola both have a rich, dark and brilliant tone that lends them to all kinds of music styles and projects. To record my instruments, I use a vintage Neumann M582 tube mic and an AKG C414 XLII to perfectly capture their warmth and clarity.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Listening and musical experience. I'm a very good listener and I always figure out exactly what my clients want from me, and then deliver a product that is better than they could ever imagine. I utilize my lifetime of intensive classical training to guide my detail-oriented work, and my love and passion of ALL music to inject everything I do with life, brilliance and joy.