Matthew Burress
Wedding and event musician. Private lesson instructor. Keyboardist for hire.
Bio
My earliest memory of providing music for a wedding was the hour I sat by the water’s edge at The Gordon Lodge in Door County, WI. I was 16 years old, and from the Piano I found joy in shaping my compositions and choices around the varying energy of people as they moved from the ceremony to the reception area.
What distinguishes me as a musician is that I grew up in the hospitality industry. I majored in music performance at college, and worked directly in sales as a postgrad. It’s because of this background that I’ve earned a reputation as someone who can read the room, and cater to evolving energy levels at events.
Weddings are where I come alive. I’ve played piano in the chapel, strummed guitar at receptions, sung 1st songs and father/daughter dances. I’ve also officiated from the pulpit after setting my instrument off to the side. I’ve MC’d, DJ’d and served on catering teams. The privilege of being a part of creating one of the best days of a couple’s life is something I’ll never fully be able to describe, but it’s why I’ve worn so many hats in this particular field. It is such a joy.
Testimonials
What They’re Saying
Private Lessons
I started studying music at age 7. I had the privilege of being taught by a woman who recognized that my strength was ear development and she thankfully encouraged me to learn that way. Eventually I got enough of a handle on notated music to pick my way through a piece and learn challenging audition material, but it wasn’t until undergrad that everything really clicked. I graduated from McNally Smith College of Music in 2012 with a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance and a Minor in Songwriting and Composition. No two students are exactly alike, and I’ve had multiple instructors over the past two and a half decades that have welcomed my individuality as a player, and helped me learn in the best way for me. That’s why I start new lessons from scratch. I determine what type of student I may be dealing with and we go from there. Sometimes there are method books and sometimes there are no physical materials at all. If a student loves classical music, we’ll go there, and if a student loves pop or jazz, we’ll go there. I love teaching, and am currently enrolling new students.
