A performer of saxophones, flutes, and clarinets, composer, arranger, and music educator, Gary Matsuura is equally at home with jazz and classical idioms. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by professional orchestras, big bands, and school ensembles. He served as music director, arranger, and lead woodwind for the Tokyo Disneyland Band and in the same capacity for other professional productions.
He has performed with Celine Dion, Rosie O’Donnell, Helen O’Connell, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Phillip Keveren, Dr. Art Davis, Jan Jordan, Debbie Ebert, and Kathy Williams. Gary established the CCA Jazz Quintet and the Re-Sounding Saxophone Quartet. Gary has presented over 30 world premieres, including many works composed for him by Fred Katz.
Gary has been teaching at the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University, in Orange, California since 1986, where he established the curriculum for classical saxophone, jazz saxophone, jazz improvisation for all instrumentalist and singers, and woodwind pedagogy, as well as directing the Chapman University Saxophone Ensemble.
Gary has been an adjudicator for the VOCE Competitions for the Music Teachers’ Association of California and the solo competitions of the Music Teachers National Association. He presented the Woodwind Masterclass at the 2024 MTAC State Convention in Los Angeles.
His students are recipients of collegiate scholarships and winners of competitions. Former students are now working as professional musicians and educators.
Gary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from California State University, Fullerton, and a Diploma in Composition and Arranging from the Dick Grove School of Music. Important and influential teachers include: Keith Clark (conducting), Allen Davis (Late 18th century counterpoint in the style of J.S. Bach), Jack Feierman (conducting), Patricia Garside (flute), Dick Grove (composition, arranging, and jazz improvisation), Fred Katz (music and philosophy), John Lasser (clarinet), Mary Palchak (flute and classical phrasing), Harvey Pittel (classical saxophone), Tom Ranier (saxophone and jazz improvisation), Tony Rodriquenz (saxophone, flute, clarinet, and jazz improvisation), Stan Steele (high school band director), Mary Ellen Trefry (flute), Mike Vaccaro (saxophone, flute, and clarinet), and Phil Woods (saxophone and jazz improvisation).
Gary Matsuura is a Yamaha Performing Artist who plays exclusively Yamaha saxophones, flutes, and clarinets. Gary is also a woodwind product design consultant for PROTEC.