Matt Styles
“the aptly-named Styles laying out his prodigious musical wares and exercising his stylistic chops as he ducked, dove and weaved..” Limelight 2024
“…a tonally pure line soaring like some gently sonic meteor…”
“… a convincing soloist…producing a stream of mellifluous sound..”
“…his artistry like a silver thread…”
One of the truly versatile saxophonists in Australia, Matt can seamlessly traverse jazz, classical, funk, avant-garde as a performer, educator, arranger, composer and musical director.
Describing himself as a performing educator, this artist has inspired audiences and students in the UK, Asia and Australia. Matt has performed with such jazz and commercial artists as Ben Folds, Diana Ross, Dave Weckl, Paul Grabowsky, Tim Minchin, Olivia Newton-John and The Manhattan Transfer. Having performed at the Villa Cellimontana (Rome) and Ninegates (Beijing) International Jazz Festivals, Matt also appears on numerous jazz, classical and cross-genre recordings and released an album of Australian cross-genre works with Mix’t Trio on Tall Poppies Records entitled Home by 11.
On the classical side, the Malaysian Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Western Australian Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, Perth Symphony and Orchestra’s have also utilised Matt as their principal saxophonist. Every year since 1997, Matt has given Australian or world premiere performances of classical and ‘cross-genre’ works specifically arranged or composed for him in his capacity as a unique soloist and improviser, including giving the Australian premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Hidden Love Song as soloist with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. Seasons of Life is a four-movement cross-genre concerto for soprano saxophone and wind orchestra written for Matt by Glyn MacDonald which received its world premiere on August 31st and released in December 2019. Recently he began composing works for the saxophone, which are published by Astute Music UK.
Following post-graduate studies at the Royal College of Music, London, he went on to receive a coveted Churchill Fellowship enabling him to study with Dr Otis Murphy, Dr Tom Walsh, Bob Berg and Dr Eugene Rousseau. He received his Doctorate in the interpretation, pedagogy and performance of classical, jazz and multi-genre or ‘cross-over’ works. In August 2024, Matt gave the world premiere of the Concerto for Saxophone – written for him by Holly Harrison with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra – a kaleidoscope of classical, funk, punk, rock and jazz.
Finally, with over 30 years’ experience teaching at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, Matthew has established himself as a prominent figure in music education, being able to communicate musical meaning to musicians and music enthusiasts and supporters of all ages and stages. Dr Matt Styles is a Henri Semer Paris Artist, D’Aaddrio Woodwinds Artist and a JLV Sound Ambassador.
Lecture by Matt Styles: A Long and Healthy Sax Life
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 2:30pm – 3pm
Lee Foundation Theatre