Biography
A native North Carolinian, Matt Leder is an avid educator and has appeared as a guest artist / clinician throughout the United States. He is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Northern Colorado. He holds a MM in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans and a BM in Jazz Performance from East Carolina University. While at UNO he was a member of the acclaimed Louis Armstrong Quintet. He has served over eight years as an active duty musician in the United States Navy, one year with the ANG Band of the Southwest (Los Angeles, CA) and is currently a member of the Air National Guard Band of the Northwest (Spokane, WA). As a member of the ANG Music program he tours with various ANG and Active Duty Air Force Bands all over the country. He has held adjunct faculty positions at Brown University, Community College of Rhode Island, South Piedmont Community College, St. George’s School, and is currently adjunct faculty at the University of Colorado at Denver. Mr. Leder has studied with Ellis Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Irvin Mayfield, Arturo Sandoval, Clyde Kerr, and many others. He is adept in many different genres, ranging from jazz combo, big band, brass quintet, concert band, musicals, rock band and New Orleans styles.
Matt has a wide variety of experiences including selection into the International Association of Jazz Educators All Star Collegiate Big Band, performances at Carnegie Hall, Birdland and Symphony Hall (Boston, MA); a theater stint in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (shows with Steve Gatlin and the stars of the Lawrence Welk Show), performed in supporting ensembles for Bob Mintzer, Benny Green, Melton Mustafa, Nicholas Payton, and Ellis Marsalis, as well as notations in Down Beat, All Hands, and ITG Journal. He is also a current member of the Jazz Educators Network, International Trumpet Guild, and College Music Society.
It is Matt’s hope that his students will develop an appreciation of Jazz and perform at the highest level of musical excellence. He also hopes to bring Jazz awareness into the community at large. He is committed, passionate, and diligent about taking his art to the highest level while providing for his family.