Dr. Matthew Buckmaster is Chair and Associate Professor of Music and Education at Elon University, where he teaches applied low brass, directs the low brass ensemble, and teaches music education methods. He also teaches coursework within Elon's General Studies program. Prior to his appointment at Elon, Dr. Buckmaster served as Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he taught undergraduate conducting, directed the brass choir and trombone jazz combo, and assisted with the Herd of Thunder athletic bands. He has also been on faculty at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, where he taught music theory, jazz band, brass techniques, ear training, applied low brass, and directed the brass ensemble. Dr. Buckmaster has taught band and music in both public and private high, middle, and elementary schools.
A Conn-Selmer performing artist, Dr. Buckmaster has extensive performing experience in a diverse array of musical genres, and can be heard on seven recordings to date. He has performed with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra, the Opera Tampa Orchestra, the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, and the Classical Music Festival Orchestra in Eisenstadt, Austria. He performed at Walt Disney World for eight years, and was a regular performer at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as well. He has also appeared with such groups as the Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, the Three Irish Tenors, Sam Rivers, the Sammy Kaye Orchestra, and the Epcot Candlelight Orchestra.
Dr. Buckmaster is a published arranger through Kagarice Brass Editions and Wehr's Music House, and is the staff arranger for the Elon University Fire of the Carolinas Marching Band. He is a member of MENC, CMS, IAJE, NCMEA, the International Trombone Association, Phi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Dr. Buckmaster's book, Successful Teaching Strategies of American College Trombone Professors, is available from VDM Verlag on Amazon.com. He also served as News Editor for the ITA Journal for two years.
A Florida native, Dr. Buckmaster holds the Ph.D. in Music Education and the M.M. in Trombone Performance from the University of South Florida, and the B.M. in Music Performance from Florida Southern College. Dr. Buckmaster currently resides in Gibsonville, North Carolina with his wife, Ana, and daughters, Zoey and Penelope.
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