Matt Styles
One of the truly versatile saxophonists in Australia, Matt Styles can seamlessly traverse, jazz, classical, funk, avant-garde as a performer, educator, arranger, composer and musical director.
Recognized as one of Australia’s most versatile saxophonists, Matt Styles moves effortlessly across jazz, classical, funk, and avant-garde genres—as a performer, educator, arranger, composer, and musical director.
Describing himself as a performing educator, Matt has inspired audiences and students throughout the UK, Asia, and Australia. His collaborations span an impressive roster of artists, including Ben Folds, Diana Ross, Dave Weckl, Paul Grabowsky, Tim Minchin, Olivia Newton-John, and The Manhattan Transfer. He has appeared at major international jazz festivals across Europe and Asia, is featured on numerous jazz, classical, and cross-genre recordings, including Home by 11—an album of original Australian works by his group, Mix’t Trio, on Tall Poppies Records.
As principal saxophonist, Matt has performed with leading orchestras such as the Malaysian Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Western Australian Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, and Perth Symphony Orchestras. With over three decades of orchestral experience, his repertoire spans the earliest works featuring saxophone across all genres, to world premieres composed in the present day.
Matt has given over 30 Australian and world-premiere performances of classical and cross-genre works written specifically for him as a soloist and improviser. Highlights include:
- Aria and Finale for tenor saxophone and piano with composer John Carmichael (world premiere)
- Catalina for soprano and tenor saxophone and chamber orchestra with recorded tracks by James Ledger (world premiere)
- Seasons of Life – a four-movement cross-genre concerto for soprano saxophone and wind orchestra by Glyn MacDonald (world premiere)
- Superhighway Saxophone Concerto by Holly Harrison and the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, recorded by ABC Classic FM (world premiere)
- Four Postcards from Perth – Concerto for soprano, alto, and baritone saxophones with chamber orchestra by Sione Lobbia (world premiere)
Matt’s academic journey includes postgraduate studies at London’s Royal College of Music with Dr Kyle Horch and Martin Robertson, followed by a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to study with Dr Otis Murphy, Dr Tom Walsh, Bob Berg, and Dr Eugene Rousseau. He later earned a Doctorate focused on interpretation, pedagogy, and performance of classical, jazz, and cross-genre works.
As the founder of Western Australia’s first university saxophone program, Matt has spent 27 years shaping versatile careers for aspiring musicians. His graduates thrive as performers, composers, educators, arts managers, entrepreneurs, and researchers, reflecting his open-minded and innovative approach to music education.
Driven by curiosity and a passion for discovery, Matt bridges written scores and improvisation across genres, creating a unique saxophone curriculum. His pioneering research explores the intersection of sports science, psychology, and music in injury prevention for saxophonists—a project inspired by his own experience overcoming a career-threatening injury. This work aims to safeguard the longevity of musicians worldwide.
With over 30 years of teaching experience across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, Matt remains a prominent figure in music education, communicating musical meaning to learners and audiences of all ages.
Samples of Matt’s recordings can be found here.
