Dr. Matthew Karatsu began playing trombone at the age of 10 and quickly become very passionate about trombone. While in middle school he was selected to be part of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s (SCSBOA) Middle School Honor Band.

Matt continued to play and in high school attended the Idyllwild Arts Summer Festival and was able to perform in the festival’s first appearance at Walt Disney Concert Hall. He also was selected his Junior year for the SCSBOA High School Honor Band. His Senior year he was selected for the SCSBOA High School Honor Orchestra. Matthew was also able to perform at Carnegie Hall with the Mira Costa High School Orchestra.

Dr. Karatsu continued his music education by attaining his Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, a Master of Music in Trombone Performance and a Master or Music in Chamber Music Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, his Master of Music in Bass Trombone Performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and finally his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.

He has degree fields that emphasize Trombone Performance, Bass Trombone Performance, Brass Pedagogy (Teaching Brass), Instrumental Conducting, Music Theory and Analysis, and Chamber Music Performance.

Dr. Karatsu has had the great opportunity to perform with many groups including: SCSBOA Honor Ensembles, Idyllwild Arts Festival Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute Orchestra, Los Angeles Doctors Symphony, Thousand Oak Philharmonic, Santa Monica Symphony, and the Southeast Symphony to name a few. He has also had the privilege of performing at the Alexadria Bach Festival in Michigan, the Hot Air Music Festival in San Francisco, and the Detroit Jazz Festival in Michigan. He was a member of Murphy’s Law Trombone Quartet when they were the Grand Prize winners of the Texas Christian University Trombone Summit College Quartet Competition. This quartet was also an Honorable Mention for the International Trombone Association’s Quartet Competition. He was also a founding member of the University of Michigan Trombone Quartet that was also an Honorable Mention for the ITA Quartet Competition.