Our saxophonist
Saxophonist Matthew James is an avid researcher, performer, and pedagogue who strives to unite dynamic artistry and informed scholarship on both the stage and classroom. He performs regularly with the Solstice Reed Quintet and the Close Quarters Saxophone Quartet, ensembles recognized for innovative programming that bridges classical traditions with contemporary music and socially engaged works.
As an in-demand educator and performer, Matthew has taught masterclasses and performed at Florida Atlantic University, the University of Oklahoma, Florida A&M University, and numerous secondary schools in Mississippi, Florida, Oklahoma, and Georgia. Matthew currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Woodwinds at Chipola College, where he teaches applied saxophone and flute and coaches chamber ensembles. He is also a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Florida State University, where he teaches applied saxophone, coaches saxophone quartets, and directs the FSU Saxophone Orchestra. A firm believer in accessibility and inclusivity, Matthew has also taught for the Lessons Academies at Leon and Lincoln High Schools, a program designed to provide affordable instruction for low-income students who would otherwise not have access to private lessons.
As a chamber musician, Matthew brings a breadth of performance experience and knowledge. He currently performs as the soprano saxophonist with Close Quarters, a saxophone quartet formed in August of 2023, and the saxophonist of the Solstice Reed Quintet, founded in 2022. Both groups have not only contributed to expanding the canon of their ensemble format, but have enjoyed successes through competition, winning prizes, and placing as finalists of the Music Teachers National Association Competition, the inaugural Housewright Virtuoso Series Small Ensemble Competition, the Mississippi Music Teachers Competition, the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet and Flex Competitions.
Beyond his chamber music work, Matthew is equally at home on the orchestral stage. He has appeared with the Lynn Philharmonia, the New World Symphony, and the Panama City Symphony, collaborating with esteemed conductors and performing cornerstone works of the saxophone’s orchestral repertoire. These experiences have deepened his versatility as a performer and broadened his artistic voice through large-scale symphonic collaboration.
A passionate advocate of new music, Matthew has organized commissions and premiered works by composers such as Marc Mellits, David Mailman, Alan Theisen, and Steve Danyew, among others. Most recently, Matthew commissioned and performed Swirl by Marc Mellits with Dr. Dannel Espinoza at the 44th International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium.
Matthew is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music degree in Woodwind Performance, with cognates in Arts Administration and College Teaching, at Florida State University, where he studies with Dr. Geoffrey Deibel. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Florida A&M University and a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he studied with Dr. Dannel Espinoza and Mr. Lawrence Panella. In addition to his performance and teaching work, Matthew is skilled in audio-visual production, using his expertise in recording, editing, and digital media to document performances, create educational content, and expand the accessibility of classical music for broader audiences.
Outside of his musical pursuits, Matthew greatly enjoys spending time with family, playing video games, and watching anime.
