Matt Williamson is the principal trombonist of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and holds the position of second trombone with the Champaign-Urbana and Dubuque Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed as a substitute musician with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and Des Moines Symphony Orchestra, among others. Matt serves as the Adjunct Instructor of Low Brass at Monmouth College and the Adjunct Instructor of Trombone at Millikin University. He has been featured as a soloist with the Monmouth College Wind Ensemble, performing Viet Cuong’s Howls and Hymns. Matt is a founding member of the 10 Degree Trio, a chamber group that performs and often commissions music for horn, trombone, and piano.
From 2017 – 2021 Matt held positions in various administrative offices at the Jacobs School of Music, including the Office of the Deans and the Music Undergraduate Office. In these diverse roles Matt enjoyed working with current and prospective students as well as all faculty and staff. In 2016, Matt participated in an exchange program with the Deutsche Oper – Berlin where he took part in performances of La Traviata, Norma, and Lucia di Lammermoor and studied with members of the orchestra.
Matt is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying with Dr. Jonathan Whitaker. He earned a Master of Music in Trombone Performance degree with Peter Ellefson at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2017. Prior to his graduate studies, he earned a Bachelor of Music with highest distinction in Trombone Performance at the Jacobs School as a student of M. Dee Stewart. Before college, Matt studied with Max Bonecutter, former bass trombonist of the Minnesota Orchestra and Metropolitan Opera.