Matthew Avery, hailing from Barre, VT, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Vermont (class of 2016) and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (class of 2019). His professional career has involved leading private and full-class instruction for a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles in the Central Vermont area, in addition to performing with numerous acclaimed artists and bands all over New England. Over the course of his graduate studies, Avery worked closely alongside world-renowned trombonist James Pugh, specializing in various elements of brass embouchure technique, composition, and jazz improvisation. Following his graduation from the University of Illinois, Avery began a career with Princess Cruises, embarking on various exotic tours of Japan and Mexico as a house-band musician for the remainder of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. While an unpredictable global pandemic has recently brought his cruising career to a sudden halt, Avery is now back at his old stomping grounds, ready to give back to the community that kickstarted his musical career.