Matt Barbier

Matt Barbier (CIM-BM/CalArts- MFA) is an LA based trombonist and composer focused primarily on experimental intonation, noise, and the physical processes of instruments. His playing has been described by the LA Times as being “of intense, brilliant, virtuosic growling that gave the striking impression that Barbier was dismantling the instrument while playing it.”

Working collaboratively with composers such as Wolfgang von Schweinitz, Nicholas Deyoe, Clint McCallum, Tina Tallon, and Kurt Isaacson, he eagerly engages both in expanding the playing methods of his instrument and exploring the emerging fields of just intonation for brass instruments.

Matt is a founding member of gnarwhallaby, Matt is a founding member of gnarwhallaby, a Los Angeles based mixed quartet formed to revive the repertoire of Poland’s Warsztat Muzyczny and Germany’s Quartet Avance. In a desire to continue the mission of those ensembles, gnarwhallaby works to actively expand the repertoire. They have premiered works by Nichols Deyoe, Andrew McIntosh, Clint McCallum, Bernardo Barros and Daniel Rothman, to name a few. Gnarwhallaby recently made their Carnegie Hall debut, premiering Nicholas Deyoe’s Lullaby 4. The quartet has also been an ensemble in residence for UC Santa Cruz’s April in Santa Cruz New Music Festival in addition to performing at the wulf., UCSD, Velaslavasay Panorama and for L.A.’s MicroFest. Gnarwhallaby’s debut album was recently released on Populist records and includes works by Gorecki, Kotonski, Krauze, Denisov, and Sabat.

Trio Kobayashi, of which he is a founding member, was originally formed to perform the music of Wolfgang von Schweinitz. This ensemble continues to evolve through relationships with composers including Richard Barrett, Marc Sabat,  Jürg Frey, and Nicholas Deyoe. Kobayashi has been in residence at UCSD in addition to performing at RedCat for their Considering Wagner, CEAIT: Xenakis- Now and Tomorrow, and New Music After Grisey Festivals.

Independently, Matt is also an active member of the acclaimed new music collective, wildUP! and has premiered works by numerous composers, including  Richard Barrett,  David Rosenboom, and Anne LeBaron. He has upcoming commissions from Andrew Greenwald, Jason Eckardt, Elise Roy, Sabrina Schroeder, and Timothy McCormack. He is a co-founding member and director of the wasteLAnd concert series.

Matt has completed residencies at Dartington International Summer School, Hamburg’s KlangWerkTage, Berlin’s 7Hours and for the Atrux Collective, as well as presenting guest lectures at CalArts, UCSD, University of British Columbia, and Simon Fraser University.  Matt has recorded works for release of Populist, Mode and Innova Records, including an upcoming solo record of music by Nicholas Deyoe and Clint McCallum.

His trombone teachers include Rick Stout, Jim Miller, Michael Svoboda, Alex Iles and Dick Erb. He studied composition with Ulrich Krieger and Wolfgang von Schweinitz.