Saxophone Studio
Bio
Dr. Matt Towsey serves as Director of Bands at Florida Tech, where he leads the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Pep Band, and teaches applied saxophone. He holds a Doctor of Arts in Jazz Studies and Music Composition and a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, as well as a Bachelor of Music from Brigham Young University–Idaho.
Before joining Florida Tech, Dr. Towsey held teaching positions at Southern Utah University and Utah Tech University. He has performed extensively throughout Southern Utah with ensembles such as the Rebel Jazz Band, Angel’s Landing Orchestra, The Cedar Jazz Dectet, and the St. George Jazz All-Stars. As a classical saxophonist, he has appeared with the Southwest Symphony and was a featured soloist with the Utah Tech University Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Towsey’s performance and recording career spans jazz, classical, Broadway, and pop genres. He has shared the stage with artists including Kat Edmonson, Etienne Charles, James Morgan, Hugh Panaro, Sal Lozano, Francisco Torres, Capathia Jenkins, and others. He has also worked as a studio musician, contributing to soundtracks for film and television.
An active clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Towsey has participated in music festivals and educational events across the western United States. His scholarly work includes a dissertation titled Jazz Composition Approaches of John Williams: A Film Score Analysis of “The Knight Bus” from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which explores Williams’s jazz influences and compositional techniques.
Outside of music, Dr. Towsey enjoys going to the beach with his family, playing video games, and running.
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching approach emphasizes personal growth, artistic development, and practical preparation for students at all levels. I guide students in building strong technical foundations while deepening their understanding of musical structure, style, and expression across classical, jazz, and contemporary genres. In saxophone lessons, we focus on tone, technique, style, and expressive performance. I strive to create a fun and creative environment that fosters a supportive, collaborative studio where students can discover their unique musical voice and thrive as lifelong learners and performers within their communities. Rather than pursuing perfectionism, I encourage students to enjoy the process of steady, incremental progress—an approach that nurtures artistic growth in music performance at every stage.
