An OPRF alumnus is making waves on a popular singing competition with his powerful voice.
Nathan Chester became a household name after his blind audition for Season 25 of the hit reality television show on NBC “The Voice,” which features contestants singing during “blind auditions” in hopes of having a celebrity judge turn their chair around for a chance to be on their team during the competition.
This season features returning coaches Reba McEntire, John Legend, and Chicago-native Chance the Rapper with newcomers Dan + Shay, a country duo, rounding up the four teams.
For his audition, Chester sang Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” and got John Legend and Dan + Shay to turn around. Chester picked Legend to be his coach.
“He is the real deal,” Chester said. “He knows exactly what he wants, such a gentleman, a very kind guy. Big heart. Great ideas, he has a lot of great ideas.”
Chester, 28, is no stranger to performing. He grew up singing alongside his family while helping in the kitchen and then later performing in his church choir.
Chester, who considers Oak Park his hometown, went to Irving Elementary and Percy Julian Middle School before moving for a few years to Lindenwood, Ill. He transferred to Oak Park and River Forest High School during his sophomore year and graduated in 2013.
While at OPRF, Chester was involved in the music theater department, becoming a valuable member of both theatre and choir, said Michelle Bayer, performing arts department chair and director of theatre at OPRF.
“I have the pleasure of directing him three times in his senior year,” Bayer said. “Nathan is a sponge! He works harder and learns faster than almost any other student I have ever directed. He is a phenomenal singer, dancer, and actor.”
According to Bayer, Chester played Ren McCormack in OPRF’s production of “Footloose,” Mitch Mahoney in “The 15th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and Enjolras in “Les Misérables.”
“Each of the productions I worked with Nathan required him to embody a different type of character, sing in a different style, and dance with a different carriage,” Bayer said. “And Nathan was able to do this flawlessly.”
Following graduation, Chester decided he wanted to pursue Broadway and began auditioning for shows across the country. He also attended Waldorf University, a small liberal arts school in Iowa, for musical theatre.
Chester worked in regional theaters across the country, including The Stephen Foster Story in Bardstown, Ky., and Crane River Theater in Kearney, Neb.
The Voice
The second time’s the charm for Chester, who first auditioned for “The Voice” when the show made a stop in Navy Pier to host auditions back in 2011.
Chester, who was a sophomore then, was asked to sing a second song by one of the producers but did not continue in the audition rounds.
“As a 14-year-old, I was more frustrated than anything, but I also felt encouraged,” Chester said.
But getting to sing a second song was also a confidence booster.
“Even though I didn’t get picked, it felt like he was curious enough to be like ‘sing one more thing’,” Chester said.
Years later, while Chester was performing on Norwegian Cruise Line, he met a singer who had been on Season 21 of “The Voice” who put him in touch with a producer, which eventually led to a blind audition.
That blind audition was “super nerve wracking,” he said.
The two-chair turn was surreal.
So has been working with John Legend.
“It feels like having a loving uncle, but an uncle who is so successful and busy and doing something all the time that anytime you get with that uncle you’re like ‘I can tell your present and you’re here, but I know when you leave here you have a family and you’re touring the world,” Chester said.
Chester made it past the Knockout round, where coaches pair up their remaining artists to sign a song of their choosing in a head-to-head matchup.
“I feel like I am really learning a lot,” Chester said. “There is something about being in the presence of Reba [McEntire] where I feel like I am learning something. I am learning a lot from my peers. It is insane how many incredible vocalists come from all over the world.”
Chester is also looking past his time on a singing competition and has started a company with his girlfriend, Emily Viancourt. They said they hope to expand that business and create more shows featuring alumni from “The Voice.” So far, a few have already signed up, including Jamar Langley who was on Season 23 and current season contestant Bryan Olesen.
As they expand, he said they hope to add talent from other shows including “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent.”
“Oftentimes with those shows, people don’t know what to do afterwards,” he said. “They have the show, they have all this momentum and fast forward five years, and some don’t know how to transition into performing professionally.”
“The Voice” is currently airing on Mondays and Tuesday on NBC.
