2004 Florida State Youth Fiddle Champion
"Wow! Look at that kid play the fiddle!"
You'll frequently hear such an exclamation at Matt's performances.
Charming audiences everywhere and exhibiting a maturity way beyond his years, Matt, at only 16 years of age, has an impressive résumé--which continues to expand with the release of "Timeless", an instrumental CD he's honored to share with Marcille Wallis and Paul Cottrell.
Matt's musical training started with classical piano lessons when he was six years old. He started Suzuki violin lessons at eight years of age, but is now exploring his interest in the roots music of America while continuing to learn and develop his own musical style.
During his classical training, he developed a love for fiddle music of all kinds, particularly old time, Celtic and bluegrass. Three years of attendance at Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Camp in Dickson, Tennessee, where he studied with and was inspired by legendary fiddlers, furthered his passion for fiddling. Matt's love of all kinds of music, coupled with his broad understanding of musical theory and exceptional command of his instrument enables him to play many types of music, including bluegrass, Celtic, country, swing, classical, and jazz. He earns the respect of all who play with him, yet he remains humble and seeks to learn all he can from each musical experience he has.
A frequent competitor, Matt has an impressive list of fiddle wins under his belt, most notably, the title of 2004 Florida State Youth Fiddle Champion.
Mindful of the needs of others, he shares his talents in community service for churches, fund raisers, service organizations, and as a member of the band in the Walton County folk life production, "Grit and Grace".
Scheduling can be a challenge, as Matt proudly plays with Marcille Wallis, Newfangled Theory, and The Grasscutters. But the good news for his fans is that there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy his performances.
For contact information, click here.