School of Music

Matthew James

Matthew James
Instructor of Saxophone
Browne Studio H
Email:MA-James2@wiu.edu

Matthew James is a performer, researcher, and pedagogue whose work unites dynamic artistry with informed scholarship. His doctoral treatise, Ambiguity in Authority: Navigating Repertoire as a Saxophonist, examines how musical works become established as “masterworks,” with particular attention to the saxophone repertoire. His research was supported by the McKnight Dissertation Fellowship through the Florida Education Fund and presented at the 2026 North American Saxophone Alliance Conference. As a performer, Matthew has appeared as a soloist with the Florida A&M University Wind Symphony and will perform with the Gateways Festival Orchestra in spring 2027. He was also named the winner of the 2026 National Association for Negro Musicians (NANM) Woodwind & Brass Competition.

An active educator, Matthew has presented masterclasses and performed at Florida Atlantic University, the University of Miami, the University of Central Florida, Florida A&M University, Stetson University, the University of Oklahoma, and numerous secondary schools throughout Mississippi, Florida, Oklahoma, and Georgia. He has also served on the faculty of the Florida A&M University Chamber Music Intensive, Florida State University Summer Music Camps, and The Saxophone Lab, among others. In 2026, he founded and directed the inaugural Florida Youth Saxophone Summit, bringing together students from 16 K–12 schools and colleges. The North American Saxophone Alliance supported the Summit with a seed grant. Before joining Western Illinois University, Matthew served as Adjunct Professor of Woodwinds at Chipola College, where he taught applied woodwinds and chamber music. He also maintains a private studio and has taught through community programs designed to expand access to private music instruction.

As a chamber musician, Matthew is a founding member and Executive Director of the Solstice Reed Quintet, an ensemble dedicated to expanding the reed quintet repertoire, educational outreach, and placing the reed quintet at the heart of 21st century chamber music. Solstice’s recent residency at the University at Buffalo featured workshops and rehearsals of seven new works for reed quintet, culminating in their public premieres at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center. The ensemble has also performed at national and international conferences, including the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference and International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, and completed its first tour in 2026, presenting performances and educational programs at ten schools and universities throughout Florida. As a member of the Close Quarters and Kairos Saxophone Quartets, Matthew has earned recognition in chamber music competitions, including second place at the national MTNA Chamber Music Competition, first place in the Housewright Virtuoso Series Chamber Music Competition, and semifinalist placements in the NASA Saxophone Quartet and Coltman Chamber Music Competitions.

Beyond chamber music, Matthew has performed with the Lynn Philharmonia, New World Symphony, and Panama City Symphony. He holds a D.M. in Saxophone Performance from Florida State University, with certificates in Arts Administration and College Teaching, an M.M. in Saxophone Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a B.S. in Music Education from Florida A&M University. His principal teachers include Geoffrey Deibel, Dannel Espinoza, Larry Panella, and Carlos Vega.