BIOGRAP RIBS

Matthew Bennett grew up in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and received his first musical instruction there. He attended Indiana University, graduating with a degree in saxophone performance. While at I.U. he studied clarinet with Bernard Pornoy and saxophone with Eugene Rousseau. He also studied composition and counterpoint with Bernhard Heiden and jazz improvisation with David Baker. In New York he has continued his studies with John Moses and Dave Tofani on clarinet and Keith Underwood and Paul Dunkel on flute.

Mr. Bennett has performed in many different musical contexts. He has played jazz with Jaki Byard's Apollo Stompers and with the Widespread Jazz Orchestra, as well as appearing on innumerable big band dates. He has performed chamber music, his own and others', on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and saxophone and has played with the Indianapolis Symphony and the Westchester Philharmonic. He has performed dozens of Broadway shows including work with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra. He is also an arranger, having written for dance bands, Latin bands, and the Westchester Philharmonic.

Matthew Bennett currently lives to the north of New York City in Mahopac, New York. His most recent composition is his Variations for Violin and Orchestra. He is currently at work on a song cycle on children's verses.