Dr Matthew Styles

Matt is Senior Lecturer in Saxophone studies, Coordinator of Honours (Music), postgraduate supervisor and musician injury researcher working with sports science specialists at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Current Teaching

• MUS4210 Research Preparation
• MUS4220 Creative Project 1
• MUS4215 Research Project
• MUS 4225 Creative Project 2
• MAP5116 Performing Arts Research Preparation
• MAP6200 Masters Thesis
• ART7200 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Creative Arts
• MUS 1540, 545, 2542, 2544, 3540, 3546, 4621: Woodwind Workshop and Ensemble Studies
• Junior and Senior Concert Practice

Background

Matt Styles is one of Australia’s most versatile saxophonists, working across jazz, classical, funk, and cross-genre music as a performer, educator, arranger, composer, and musical director. A performing educator, he has inspired audiences throughout the UK, Asia, and Australia.

Matt has collaborated with artists including Ben Folds, Diana Ross, Dave Weckl, Paul Grabowsky, Tim Minchin, Olivia Newton-John, and The Manhattan Transfer. He has performed at jazz festivals and appears on recordings, including Home by 11, an album of original Australian works by Mix’t Trio on Tall Poppies Records.

As principal saxophonist, Matt has performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Western Australian Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, and Perth Symphony Orchestras. Across three decades, he has built a repertoire spanning saxophone literature, jazz, and contemporary works.

A passionate advocate for new music, Matt has given more than 30 Australian and world-premiere performances, including numerous works as a soloist with orchestra. Highlights include Superhighway Saxophone Concerto by Holly Harrison, Seasons of Life by Glyn MacDonald, Four Postcards from Perth by Simone Lobbia, Catalina by James Ledger, and Aria and Finale by John Carmichael.

His academic studies include postgraduate training at London’s Royal College of Music, Indiana University, and the University of Minnesota, together with a Churchill Fellowship enabling study with leading saxophonists and educators. He later completed a Doctorate focused on interpretation, pedagogy, and performance of classical, jazz, and cross-genre works.
As founder of Western Australia’s first university saxophone program, Matt has spent more than 25 years developing versatile, career-ready musicians. His graduates work across performance, composition, education, arts management, entrepreneurship, and research.

His current research explores injury prevention for saxophonists through the integration of sports science, psychology, and music performance. With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Matt continues to shape musicians while maintaining an active and diverse performing career.

Professional Associations

• 2012 - present - Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare , member, conference reviewer
• 2015 - present - Performing Arts Medical Association, member
• 2022- present - Western Australian Music, member
• HenriSelmerParis Artist
• D’Addario Artist
• JLV Sound Ambassador

Awards and recognition

National and International awards

• 2004 Churchill Fellowship

Research areas and interests

• Cross-genre pedagogy and performance
• Bridging the divide between classical and jazz for classical musicians
• Creating injury mitigation strategies for saxophonists through a multi-discipline approach with sports science

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Music with Second Class Honours, The University of Western Australia.
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40116, Other WA registered training organisation, 2023.
• Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, Edith Cowan University, 2013.
• Doctor of Musical Arts, The University of Western Australia, 2008.

Research Outputs

Research Projects

• Saxology: recasting third stream music for the saxophone , Edith Cowan University, ECU Early Career Researcher Grant - 2014, 2014 ‑ 2015, $23,560.

Research Student Supervision