Matt Harris graduated with a BM from the University of Miami and a MM from the Eastman School of Music. He moved to Los Angeles after touring, writing, and recording with jazz legends, Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich. Matt is the director of Jazz Studies at California State University, Northridge. 

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Matt is an active clinician, conductor and composer for high schools, colleges, and professional bands around the world. 

His big band music is published by Kendor Music, UNC Jazz Press, Alfred Music, and Sierra Music. 

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Matt has 6 CD’s of original and has written for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra (Netherlands), Czech National Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony, and the  Armed Forces bands. He has also arranged, orchestrated, and performed on numerous national jingles, tv, and film recordings.

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Matt’s continued involvement with the Buddy Rich band includes performances at the Blue Note in Tokyo (2014), and Ronnie Scott’s in London (2017) featuring Dave Weckl. He also played with drum legends Neal Peart, Chad Smith, Terry Bozzio, Peter Erskine, Dennis Chambers, Steve Gadd, Greg Bissonette, Tommy Igoe, and John Blackwell for Buddy Rich videos.
 
Matt recently toured New Zealand with Rodger Fox’s “Funkbone” band  (2017) as well as arranging music and performing with the National Czech Symphony with Bobby Shew, Eric Marienthal, and Denise Donatelli (2017).