Matthew Kay

An innovative and versatile performer, composer, and teacher, Matthew Kay has played around the world with some of the world’s finest musicians. With a desire to engage audiences with a unique experience, Matthew’s performances span a diverse range of genres such as traditional british brass band music, classical music, electronica, jazz, gospel, and Roma gypsy music.

Matthew has played with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Lansing Symphony Big Band and the Southern Tier Orchestra. In 1998, he became the British Cornet Champion, shortly after joining the world-renowned Yorkshire Building Society Band. During his seven years with the band, they became widely regarded as the best brass band in the world winning the European Brass Band Championships a record six times, touring Europe and Australia, and recorded several internationally acclaimed CDs.

Matthew has a doctorate in trumpet performance at Michigan State University. He is the founder of Slavistar, a Roma gypsy style band, which blends traditional Eastern European folk tunes with jazz, funk and soul.