Matt Glaser
Position
Artistic Director
Affiliated Departments
Expertise
American roots music
Telephone
617-747-2296
For media inquiries, please contact Media Relations
Jazz and bluegrass violinist Matt Glaser served as chair of the Berklee String Department for 28 years. Known as much for his versatility as his virtuosity, Glaser's vast knowledge and experience in music has fueled collaborations with a wide range of artists, from cellist Yo-Yo Ma to filmmaker Ken Burns. He has released two albums as leader of Wayfaring Strangers and has appeared on scores of other recordings, including discs released by his former students such as Tracy Bonham and Alex Hargreaves. His long list of other musical collaborators includes David Grisman, Bob Dylan, and Vassar Clements.
Career Highlights
- Performances at Carnegie Hall with Stephane Grappelli and Yo-Yo Ma, and at the Boston Globe Jazz Festival with Gunther Schuller
- Featured on Grammy Award–winning soundtrack for The Civil War and the soundtrack for King of the Gypsies
- Performances with the New York All-Stars, Bob Dylan, Lee Konitz, David Grisman, and the International String Quartet Congress
- Author of Jazz Violin and Jazz Chord Studies for Violin
- Served on the board of advisors for Ken Burns's Jazz documentary and appears as a narrator on the film
- Taught at the Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp, the University of Miami, American String Teacher Association conferences, and International Association of Jazz Educators conferences
- Specializes in helping string players develop improvisational skills in jazz and folk idioms
In Their Own Words