Natalie began playing piano at the age of 4, and trumpet followed two years later. Thanks to her involvement in music, Natalie had the opportunity to tour North America, Great Britain and Japan performing with the award winning concert, marching and jazz ensembles in the Region Lions Band, and South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra and playing for celebrities and dignitaries including King Charles. After battling cancer in high school, Natalie was told she would never play trumpet again, but she proved everyone wrong by completing the Associate Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, with the highest mark in Canada. She then went on to complete a BMus in Trumpet Performance from the University of Regina in just three years, and was awarded the highest level of distinction upon graduation- the President’s Medal. In 2008, Natalie first came to Rochester to begin a Master’s degree at the Eastman School of Music, studying with James Thompson, and ended up loving the weather so much, she stayed for a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree. During her degrees, Natalie won 1st place in brass at the Canadian Music Festival and placed in the medals, 3 years in a row, at the American National Trumpet Competition.

After completing her education, Natalie filled an interim position as Head of Brass at Montana State University then won the Assistant Principal/Second Trumpet position with the Regina Symphony Orchestra which she holds to this day. Not being able to resist Rochester’s unique charm, she transitioned back to Western New York in 2016 and married Rochester native, Karl Stabnau. Since then Natalie has taught at several colleges and continues to teach at SUNY Brockport, Rochester Institute of Technology and Houghton University as well as the Eastman Community Music School. Natalie maintains an active adjudicating and clinician schedule and enjoys overseeing student experiences and internships for the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Natalie and Karl have partnered together in a number of entrepreneurial music endeavors in the community including PopStyle, an event/cover band, and Sonic Era through which they promote concerts in the Greater Rochester region. Most recently, Natalie and Karl renovated and opened The Theater at Innovation Square- a multidisciplinary performing arts center in the heart of Rochester.