Dr. Matthew York is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, performer, recording artist, producer, composer, and arranger based in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. For the past three years, he has served as an Assistant Professional Professor of Saxophone, Jazz, and Music Technology at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
Matthew’s work as a composer, arranger, and producer spans big bands, festivals, film scores, theatrical productions, and small ensembles. As a performer and recording artist, he has traveled across the country and performed with numerous groups at festivals including the Texas Jazz Festival, Oakland Art & Soul Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Greely Jazz Festival, NOLA Reggae Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, South by Southwest, and Head for the Hills Funk Festival, among others.
Throughout his educational and professional career, Matthew has had the opportunity to share the stage with some of the world’s leading musicians, including his mentors Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Dr. Ira Wiggins, Lenora Z. Hammonds, and Camille Thurman, as well as Delfeayo Marsalis, Bill Watrous, Russell Malone, Nate Smith, Raechel Price, Miguel Zenón, Butch Miles, Sheila Horn, Bobby Sanabria, Tom Braxton, Claudia Melton, Brandon Mitchell, and Altin Sencalar. As an award-winning sideman, he has also recorded with artists such as Joey Calderazzo, Lenora Z. Hammonds, Ameen Saleem, Kobie Watkins, James “Saxmo” Gates, Ira Wiggins, and Isrea Butler.
Matthew holds a Doctor of Arts in Saxophone Performance and Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Music in Jazz Studies and Composition/Arranging from North Carolina Central University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. Equally comfortable leading his own small groups, performing in a musical theater pit orchestra, or working as a sideman on contemporary recordings, Matthew continues to stay active as both a performer and educator. In addition to leading his own ensembles, he regularly performs with the U.S.S. Lexington Big Band, Coastal Bend Big Band,and Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra.
“My teaching philosophy is simple! Once my student, always my student. Whether it is today, tomorrow, or ten years from now, know that you can reach out to me and I will do everything in my power to help you.”
