Biography
Matthew Jaskot's music is organic and eclectic, drawing from a variety of traditions, and exploring dichotomies that exist between simplicity and complexity, and activity and stasis. Recent highlights include the premiere of his concert length song-cycle, Close and Apart, composed in collaboration with poet Susan Elizabeth Sweeney, performed by soprano Jennifer Ashe, baritone Brian Church, and members of Rude Music, and Verdant Vibes, and supported by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council. His works have been performed nationally and internationally by ensembles such as Kronos String Quartet, Boston Musica Viva, Transient Canvas, Bala Brass, Xelana duo, the Great Noise Ensemble, Fortunata Trio, the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Boston Percussion Group, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Choir, and artists Alice Jones (flute), Alicia Kosack (flute), Laura Armstrong (clarinet), Daniel Beilman (bassoon), Alex Davis (bassoon), Matt Taylor (saxophone), Philip Staudlin (saxophone), Ana Garcia Caraballos (saxophone), Jonathan Hess (percussion), Matt Sharrock (percussion), Karlyn Mason (percussion), Blair McMillen (piano), Sergio Muñoz Leiva (viola), Peter Sulski (viola) and others. He has participated as a composer/pianist in a variety of conferences and festivals hosted by the Society of Composers, the College Music Society, and the National Saxophone Alliance, and festivals such as the West Fork New Music Festival, Connecticut Summerfest, the University of Tennessee Contemporary Music Festival, the Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice, and the Charlotte New Music Festival. His solo piano piece, Rejuvenated (Variations on a Youthful Theme) is published on the Society of Composer's CD release, Flare, produced by Navona Records. He holds a DMA and MM in composition from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD) and a BA in music from the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø (Worcester, MA), and has studied composition with Osvaldo Golijov, Shirish Korde, Mark Wilson, and Tom DeLio, and piano with Marian Hanshaw and Gina Fredericks.
Matt is an accomplished pianist, focusing on the presentation of works from the 20th and 21st-century. He has recently performed as a guest artist at the Worcester Art Museum, Clark University, Merrimack College, Harford Community College, St. John's High School and St. Mary's Church in Shrewsbury, MA and has shared the stage with many internationally acclaimed musicians. He performs often as a faculty-artist at the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø, where he also organizes and performs in the lunchtime concert series, and where he presented the first ever musical performance in the new rendition of the Iris B. Cantor Art Gallery (Nostalgia and Identity in Ritual and Devotion). As a graduate student, he premiered a variety of works on the University of Maryland’s New Music Series and served as the artistic director of TEMPO, a student-run new music ensemble at the University of Maryland. Under his direction, TEMPO became recognized as an integral part of the School of Music and was positively reviewed in the Washington Post. Matt's interest in music extends beyond the classical tradition. He has been active as a liturgical organist and pianist for several years and has also performed with various groups in styles ranging from jazz, to rock, and other popular styles.
Currently, Matt serves on the faculty at the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø where he teaches courses in music theory, composition, surveys in twentieth century music, including American popular music and the History of Rock, and Music of Peace and Conflict, and serves as the accompanist for the college choirs. Students in his courses have worked collaboratively on creative projects with students in poetry, dance, and visual art courses. In addition, he is the Coordinator of Wedding Music and Organist for on campus weddings. He has also taught courses at Clark University, American University, The University of Maryland and Montgomery Community College, as well as private students in composition and piano.