He was also accepted into the Bachelor of Music program at W.A.A.P.A. (Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts) at the age of 16, where he consequently won the Bob Wyllie Scholarship for best graduating student. Mat then completed his Masters and Artist Diploma degrees at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in New York City and was subsequently a lecturer there.

 

Mat has been a member of numerous New York based groups, including Miguel Zenon’s Identities Ensemble, the Birdland Big Band, Pedro Giraudo’s Expansions Ensemble, the Lucas Pino nonet and many others. He has recorded with Kenny Werner and Joe Lovano, Miguel Zenon, Pedro Giraudo, Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project, Bill Mobley’s Smoke Big Band and Bryan Carter’s debut album.

 

When living in the US some years ago Mat has had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis, James Spaulding, Carl Allen, Terence Blanchard, Josh Roseman to name but a few. Between 2008 and 2012 Mat performed regularly with the shows ‘Hair’ and ‘After Midnight’ on Broadway and worked with legendary singer Paul Anka with whom he has toured throughout Europe, Russia, Asia, South America and the Middle East.

 

Before leaving his hometown of Perth he was one of the most in-demand trumpet soloists in Australia. Mat was also featured on James Morrison’s ‘On The Edge’ recording from the Sydney Opera House and toured the world numerous times with this group. Shortly after this he performed at the Melbourne International Brass Festival alongside Bill Watrous and James Morrison, Bob Barnard’s Jazz Party and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival with Graeme Lyall and Joe Chindamo. He is featured on numerous recordings, and released his debut record ‘Blues In The Night’ in 2004. Mat's latest release is 'Insurgent'.

 

In 2015 Mat moved back to Australia to join the faculty at the JM Academy.