America. The place where it all began. Matt was born in Berkeley, California, but spent most of his childhood in San Leandro. He attended First Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California, and studied violin at the once-renowned college, Holy Names University, under Celia Vollov, and later Debra Schwartz. He was an active member in the Oakland Youth Orchestra under the direction of Omid Zoufanoum and Michael Morgan. Matt graduated with a double-major undergraduate degree in Classical Violin Performance and Music Education. Immediately after, he pursued a master’s degree in Contemporary Performance with a concentration in music production. Currently, he studies with Terrie Baune, concertmaster of the Oakland Symphony, and is an active violin fellow at the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, where he will train under the guidance of San Francisco Symphony Members.