Matt Pivec

Saxophonist Matt Pivec has established himself as a versatile musician. As a performer of jazz and popular music, Matt has worked with 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 Cunningham’s 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 Hay’s "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. He performed with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the Eastman Graduate Saxophone Quartet, 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 performed with the UWEC Wind Ensemble and 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 Instructor of Saxophone and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at California State University

Gear

Selmer Mark IV Meyer 7

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