Yakima Valley College’s Music Program is excited to host Melodic Mastery, a jazz improvisation workshop by flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny. The workshop will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 1:00pm in Kendall Hall, Building 12, Room 120. Based on the teachings of his mentor, jazz legend Art Farmer, Matheny explores the mental processes that take place while playing a jazz solo and the skills required for true improvisation. This event is free and open to musicians of all levels.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Matheny was raised in Georgia and Arizona. He began piano lessons at age 5, switched to the trumpet at age 9, and took up the flugelhorn at 18. He attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, and later the Berklee College of Music, graduating magna cum laude in 1989. After private studies, Matheny became the protégé of legend Art Farmer.

At 29, after launching a busy recording career on the West Coast, he played New York City’s Carnegie Hall and began touring internationally. Mathney has toured extensively throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. He has received several prestigious awards including NW Instrumentalist of the Year, the 2016 Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards and Best New Artist from JazzTimes. Throughout his professional career as a concert and recording artist, Matheny has also been a dedicated educator, community leader, and advocate for jazz and the arts. He presents clinics, lectures, master classes and workshops at leading universities and conservatories. Today, Dmitri leads the Dmitri Matheny Group. For more information visit: https://dmitrimatheny.com/news

Following the workshop, the Dmitri Matheny Group will be in concert at the Season’s Performance Hall that night. For tickets visit: http://theseasonsyakima.com/. For more information about YVC’s workshop contact Jeff Norwood 509.574.4836 / Jnorwood@yvcc.edu.

 

Press Release Contacts:

Jay Frank / 509.574.6870 / jfrank@yvcc.edu
Stefanie Menard / 509.574.4646 / smenard@yvcc.edu