Matt Rees is an accomplished music educator and trumpet performer based in the Pittsburgh area, with a strong foundation in both teaching and performance. He began his musical journey in the fourth grade and is a proud alumnus of the North Allegheny School District.

Matt earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2022 and went on to complete his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at Carnegie Mellon University in 2024. While pursuing his degrees, Matt was extensively involved in a wide array of musical ensembles, including wind ensembles, orchestras, and jazz bands. He studied under world-class trumpet pedagogues and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians Neal Berntsen, George Vosburgh, and Dr. Micah Holt, gaining valuable insight into both classical and contemporary trumpet performance.

A dedicated educator, Matt brings a breadth of teaching experience across all grade levels. He most recently served as Director of Bands for grades 4–12 in the Crawford Central School District, where he led concert bands, marching bands, and instrumental programs. His student teaching placements included grades 9–12 band and K–5 general music at the North Hills School District, where he refined his instructional techniques in both classroom and ensemble settings.

Matt has also held leadership roles as a trumpet graduate assistant for the North Hills and North Allegheny marching bands, and has been a key contributor to beginner band camps at the PYCO School of Music and Slippery Rock Area School District. He is currently the elementary band director in the Pine-Richland School District, where his goal is to inspire young musicians to achieve anything they put their minds to through foundational instrumental instruction.

In addition to teaching, Matt remains an active performer. He plays with a variety of local ensembles including the Musicians Concert Band of Butler, PA, Murphy’s Big Band of Leechburg, PA, and frequently performs with the worship team at Christ Church at Grove Farm in Sewickley, PA. Outside of his musical pursuits, Matt enjoys staying active through exercise, exploring new places through travel, and following his favorite sports teams.