Matt Miller is an Atlanta-based saxophonist, woodwind doubler, teacher, arranger, and composer.

Matt has performed extensively as a leader and sideman throughout the United States with artists ranging from the Joe Gransden Big Band and jazz bassist William Parker to the Macon Symphony Orchestra, and the Temptations.

Matt grew up in New Jersey and graduated from the New School University in New York City with a BFA in Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2007. While in New York, he studied with saxophonists Michael Blake, David Glasser, Billy Harper, and Rich Perry among many others.

Matt moved with his wife to Georgia in 2011 and studied saxophone with Dr. Monty Cole at Mercer University. He graduated from Mercer with a Master of Music degree in 2015. As a graduate student at Mercer, Matt led saxophone chamber groups, jazz improvisation ensembles, saxophone sectionals, and the jazz orchestra. In addition to saxophone, Matt has studied flute with Mr. Kelly Via, and arranging and composition with Dr. Christopher Schmitz.

Since moving to Atlanta in 2015, Matt has performed extensively with artists like Joe Gransden, Kenny Banks, Kevin Bales, Tyrone Jackson, Dave Frackenpohl, Paul Fischer and a host of others. He can be heard every Thursday at the Commerce Club in Downtown Atlanta from 6PM to 9PM with the great keyboardist Emmanuel Chops Smith.  

Matt is currently the music teacher at Tapestry Public Charter School, an innovative school in Atlanta focused on providing a rigorous, inclusive education to middle and high school students. At Tapestry, he has developed the music curriculum from the ground up, teaching band, chorus, music appreciation and developing a music theory and composition and music technology course for high school students. Matt was voted Teacher of the Year at Tapestry for the 2016-2017 school year. 

In 2017 and 2018, Matt was a featured presenter at the Woodruff Arts Center Educator Conference. At Mercer University, he was invited to give numerous guest lectures on jazz improvisation and history as part of a broader music history course.

In addition to his experience at Tapestry Public Charter School, Matt has worked as an adjunct faculty member at Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA running the woodwind ensemble and teaching private lessons and a music appreciation course. Additionally, he has worked for five years as a  faculty member at the Otis Redding Music camp where he coached middle and high school students in woodwind performance, songwriting, improvisation, and music business and was the saxophone instructor at the Georgia Music Educators Association Bootcamp at Mercer University from 2011-2014.

Since 2005, Matt has worked as a freelance journalist, contributing articles, reviews, and commentary on music and culture for The New York City Jazz Record, Jazz.com, Macon Magazine, The Macon Telegraph, The 11th hour, Out Here, and other publications.

Photographs: Emily Butler