2011

The Amherst Town Band is pleased to announce the appointment of the next conductor of the band, Patrick Matthews.

Patrick was born and raised in Nashua, New Hampshire. He attended Nashua High School North where he won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award upon graduating in 2006. He continued his education at the University of Maine in Orono and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with alto saxophone as his majoring instrument. While there, he traveled New England as the principal saxophonist in the UMaine Symphonic Band, performing in venues such as Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts and Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine. He was also a soloist for the band his senior year, as well as a regular soloist for the UMaine Jazz Ensemble of which he was the lead player for three years. 

He student taught in the Brewer School District for his capstone and was an assistant conductor for both the middle school and high school concert bands and jazz bands. He graduated from the university with his undergraduate degree in 2010.  

Patrick now resides in Nashua where he lives with his wife, Carly. He is the general music teacher as well as the band and chorus director at Grinnell Elementary in Derry NH. On the side he is also the saxophone instructor for the Salem High School Marching Band and is a member of the Hollis Town Band.

As conductor of the Amherst Town Band, it is his goal to continue where Patricia McMullen left off and continue to build upon what has already proven to be a great band in a great community.