e-mail: mpivec@csustan.edu
phone: (209) 667-3426
web site:
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Saxophonist Matt Pivec has performed with some of the great artists of jazz and popular music including: Ray Charles, The Temptations, Peter Erskine, Maria Schneider, the Rochester Philharmonic Pops Orchestra, and the national touring companies of Hairspray, 42nd Street, and The Producers. As a band leader and soloist, Matt has performed at festivals and venues throughout the United States. Equally adept as a classical saxophonist, he collaborated with composer Michael Cunningham on a 1999 recording of Cunninghams recital pieces for saxophone. During the project, Matt demonstrated his versatility by recording works on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. In 2003, he gave the world premiere performance of Michael Hays "Blues in Three Parts."
Matt received the Doctor of Musical Arts (Saxophone Performance and Literature) and Master of Music (Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media) degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. While at Eastman, Matt studied with Ramon Ricker and served as lead alto saxophone of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble. He received several student honors including the outstanding blues/pop/rock soloist from Downbeat magazine, the Arts Leadership Certificate, and the outstanding Teaching Assistant award. Matt received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. There, he served as lead alto saxophone of the nationally acclaimed Jazz Ensemble I, which was recognized twice as the top collegiate jazz ensemble by Downbeat Magazine.
Currently, Matt is the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at California State University Stanislaus. Prior to his appointment at CSU Stanislaus, he taught at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin Stout. A committed educator, Matt enjoys teaching saxophone and jazz to students of all ages.
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