Trombonist Matthew Russo is a versatile performer, devoted educator and passionate advocate of new music. Recent accomplishments include finalist in the 2012 International Trombone Association Alto Trombone Competition and the 2012 Yale Woolsey Hall Concerto Competition. He will travel to Paris, France in July 2012 to participate in the 2012 International Trombone Festival.

A champion of new music, Matthew has premiered over a dozen new works. Recent premieres include Erik Nielsen’s Slidebone for trombone solo in November 2011, and the U.S. premiere of Paul J. Rudoi’s Play in Variants for trombone quartet in March 2012.

Matthew has been a member of many successful chamber ensembles, including the Excalibur Brass Quintet, winner of the 2011 Yale Chamber Music Competition and fellow at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the West End Brass Quintet, winner of 2009 Paranov Concerto Competition, and special guest at the 2010 Chicago Brass Festival. He currently serves as a member of the Yale Trombone Quartet.

Matthew is dedicated to music education and is currently a teaching artist in the greater New Haven area. A Connecticut certified teacher, He serves as Director of Bands in the Lower School at Hamden Hall Country Day School, where students in Grades 4-6 begin studying an instrument of their choice.  As a member teacher of the Yale Music in Schools Initiative, Matthew currently teaches all instruments to students at John C. Daniels School in New Haven, CT.

Russo is a Master of Music Candidate at the Yale School of Music where he studies with Scott Hartman. He received his B.M. in Trombone Performance and Music Education where he studied with Dr. Ronald A. Borror and was a member of the Performance 20/20 Honors Chamber Music Program. While at Hartt he was winner of the 2009 Paranov Concerto Competition, and a laureate prize winner in the 2009 van Rooy Competition for Musical Excellence, one of the few brass players to earn that distinction.