Matt Clauhs grew up in Bucks County, PA. He studied saxophone and flute at Penn State University while obtaining a B.S. in music education. In the State College area, Matt led his own group, the Freedom Jazz Quintet, and performed weekly gigs with two other jazz ensembles, the Andrew Jackson Jazz Showcase and Groove Affliction. After graduating from Penn State, Matt moved to Massachusetts and began work as a instrumental music teacher in the Boston Public School District. There he teaches Jazz Band, Jazz Improvisation, Music Theory, and Music History at the Boston Arts Academy, a public high school for the performing and visual arts. Matt is also employed by the City Music division of the Berklee College of Music where he teaches private lessons and directs an ensemble. Matt will complete a Masters in Music Education at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst in August, 2008.