Matthew Gunderson, Clarinet
Matt began playing the clarinet at age 10 and instantly fell in love with its flexibility and lyricism. After graduating from high school, Matt studied clarinet at the University of South Carolina with Professor Emeritus R. Douglas Graham, earning a Bachelor’s of Music degree in Music Education with a minor in Performance.
Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Matt returned to USC and worked toward a Master’s degree in Music History while continuing his study of the clarinet with Prof. Graham, becoming Principal Clarinetist of the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra and performing with numerous chamber ensembles. He also served as a Graduate Assistant in the Music Appreciation department, teaching sections of 150 students, as well as working in the Music Library at USC under the tutelage of Jennifer Ottervik.
After meeting his future wife, Erin, Matt moved to Milwaukee and began pursuing a Master’s in Library Science and a Master’s in Clarinet Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was a Graduate Assistant in the Music Library at UWM, learning from and assisting Head Librarian Rebecca Littman. He studied clarinet with Todd Levy, Principal Clarinetist of the Milwaukee Symphony, while serving as Co-Principal Clarinetist of both the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.
After completing his performance degree, and consequently realizing he was broke, Matt enlisted in the United States Army and joined the Training and Doctrine Command Band at Fort Monroe, VA. He served as clarinetist in the concert band and ceremonial band, and as clarinetist and alto saxophonist with the jazz band.
In April of 2009, Matt joined the United States Army Field Band at Fort Meade, MD, currently serving as Assistant Librarian. /p>
He joined the Columbia Orchestra in August of 2009, playing both clarinet and bass clarinet, and has embraced the joys of sharing music with the enthusiastic and hungry audiences that have graced the concert hall.
Matt currently lives in Linthicum Heights, MD, with his wife, Erin, his two young daughters, Abigail and Hannah, and their cat, Rachmaninoff (Rachy for short!).
