ABOUT MATTHEW
Long Bio: 615 Words
Matthew Howell (b. 1999) is a professional composer, saxophonist, and educator based in Tallahassee, Florida. Matthew grew up in Okmulgee, Oklahoma where he attended Morris Public Schools throughout his youth. After gaining a vested interest in music from the high school bands, Matthew attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Matthew graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with minors in Jazz Studies and Music Theory/Composition in Spring of 2021, studying saxophone with Dr. Jeffery Loeffert, Dr. Johnny Salinas and Dr. Thomas Poole. He also studied composition with Dr. Igor Karaca, Dr. Thomas Poole, and Dr. Tyler Austin. Matthew graduated with his Master’s in Music Composition at Florida State University in Spring of 2023. He served as a graduate teaching assistant alongside his professional work, studying with Dr. Liliya Ugay and Dr. Eren Gumrukcuoglu.
As a composer, Matthew has a varied catalog of works for chamber winds, strings, and percussion. Heralded as “hauntingly emotional” and “a fresh voice” by past mentors and professors at Oklahoma State University, Matthew’s music is an amalgam of minimalism, jazz, and rock/alternative music through the lens of chamber winds. Matthew also writes for electroacoustic settings, with "Into Focus" for alto saxophone and electronics being premiered in April of 2023. Matthew is heavily influenced by music from the 70’s and 80's, drawing his primary influences from the genre-bending works of Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Brian Eno, Herbie Hancock, and George Harrison in addition to more recent composers such as Adam Schoenberg, Omar Thomas, Viet Cuong, and Marc Mellits. Matthew’s music focuses on the self and its relation to the natural world, seeking to create spaces for personal reflection and interpersonal growth.
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As a saxophonist, Matthew has performed in a variety of settings and styles across the country. Matthew has performed as a member of an OSU ensemble at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conferences in Tempe AZ in 2020 as well as Cincinnati, OH in 2018. Matthew also performed in the 2019 NASA Region IV conference in Fayetteville, AR as well as the 2021 Region IV Online Conference hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio. Matthew was a member of the critically acclaimed OSU Jazz Orchestra from 2018 to 2021, performing on tenor and baritone saxophonists as a soloist and ensemble member. Matthew was also recently featured on critically acclaimed OSU Jazz album “Room 118” as an ensemble member and soloist on baritone and tenor saxophones. Matthew has also performed in a variety of chamber ensembles, including the Paradigm Saxophone Octet, the N Pier Quartet, the Coral Quartet, and various iterations of the OSU Saxophone Ensemble among others. Matthew also has a vested interest in supporting the work of fellow composers, premiering works by Danielle Fisher, Michael Daugherty, Tyler Austin, and Viet Cuong. Matthew is a member of ASCAP, SCI, JEN, and NASA.
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As an educator, Matthew has varied experiences in the classroom and in front of ensembles both large and small in a variety of settings, including K-12 and collegiate settings. He currently serves as the upper school music director at Community Leadership Academy in Tallahassee, Florida. His duties include teaching general music and leading ensembles for 4th-12th grade students. Also recently, Matthew taught two sections each of aural skills 3 and 4 at Florida State University as a graduate assistant and the primary instructor of the course. Matthew has also worked with numerous chamber ensembles on his music including Red Hill Quartet, Polymorphia New Music Ensemble, Roadmap Quartet, Paradigm Octet, and the Frontiers New Music Ensemble. In preparation for a premiere at the 2023 NASA Biennial Conference, Matthew also conducted and led the FSU Saxophone Orchestra in rehearsals of “Counterpoint I.”
Short Bio: 226 words
Matthew Howell is a professional composer, educator, and saxophonist based out of Tallahassee, Florida. Matthew graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with minors in Jazz Studies and Music Theory/Composition in Spring of 2021. Matthew studied saxophone with Dr. Jeffery Loeffert, Dr. Johnny Salinas, and Dr. Tommy Poole, and composition/new music with Dr. Igor Karaca, Dr. Tommy Poole, and Dr. Tyler Austin. Matthew graduated with his master’s degree in music composition from Florida State University, studying in the private studios of Dr. Eren Gumrukcuoglu and Dr. Liliya Ugay. Matthew’s music draws from minimalism, jazz, and rock/alternative music with the hopes of creating accessible yet challenging works that appeal to common and academic audiences alike. Matthew’s work focuses on music for chamber winds and percussion, as well as various iterations of the wind ensemble. Matthew also has a vested interest in writing for the saxophone, having over half of his catalog include works for saxophone soloists or ensembles. Matthew has collaborated with various ensembles, including the FSU Saxophone Orchestra, Coral Quartet, Paradigm Octet, Ball State University Wind Ensemble, Oklahoma State University Wind Ensemble, Oklahoma State University Jazz Orchestra, and Frontiers New Music Ensemble as well as several individual artists including Dr. Kim Loeffert, Dr. Tyler Austin, Alexis Seah, and Dr. Joseph Missal. Matthew is a member of ASCAP, SCI, JEN, and NASA.
REALLY Short Bio: 149 words
Matthew Howell is a composer of music for winds and electronics. Matthew's music focuses on the relationship between the self and one’s surroundings, seeking to create spaces of personal reflection with a blend of jazz, minimalism, and rock/alternative music. Matthew graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with minors in Jazz Studies and Music Theory/Composition in Spring of 2021. Matthew studied saxophone with Drs. Jeffery Loeffert, Johnny Salinas, and Tommy Poole, and composition with Drs. Igor Karaca, Tommy Poole, and Tyler Austin. Matthew graduated in Spring 2023 from Florida State University with his master’s degree in music composition, studying in the private studios of Drs. Eren Gumrukcuoglu and Liliya Ugay. Matthew’s music draws from minimalism, jazz, and rock/alternative music with the hopes of creating engaging works that appeal to common and academic audiences alike. Matthew is a member of ASCAP, SCI, JEN, and NASA.
