BRASS INSTRUCTORS

Zachary Spiess

Trumpet / Brass

Zachary Spiess is a Los Angeles-based freelance trumpet player and educator. An Arizona native, Spiess earned his Bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from Arizona State University and a Master’s in performance at the Bob Cole Conservatory at CSU Long Beach. He is well-versed in many styles of playing and has performed with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the American Youth Symphony, the Pacific Brass Ensemble, the Conejo Valley Theater, the Los Angeles Brass Alliance, and the Synesthesia Sinfonietta. Zachary also teaches at schools and institutions throughout the South Bay. In addition, he has been a fellow at the Bay View Music Festival, and has participated in the Eastern Music Festival, the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute, and the Trumpet Forward Festival. Spiess’ primary teachers include Ryan Darke, David Hickman, Josef Burgstaller, and Benny Nguyen. 

Mathew Karatsu

Trombone, Brass

Dr. Karatsu earned a Bachelor of Music (BM) in Trombone Performance from the USC Thornton School of Music. After switching to bass trombone, he received a Master of Music (MM) in Trombone Performance and a MM in Chamber Music Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Matt then earned a MM in Bass Trombone Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with current and retired members of the San Francisco Symphony and the Bay Brass. Finally, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) from the USC Thornton School of Music. His DMA degree fields emphasized Trombone Performance, Music Theory and Analysis, Brass Pedagogy, and Chamber Music Performance. Dr. Karatsu’s performance accolades include SCSBOA Honor Ensembles, Idyllwild Arts Festival Ensembles, the National Orchestral Institute Orchestra, the Peninsula Symphony, the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, the Santa Monica Symphony, and the Southeast Symphony to name a few. He has had the privilege of performing at the Alexandria Bach Festival in Michigan, the Hot Air Music Festival in San Francisco, and the Detroit Jazz Festival in Michigan. Matt currently teaches a private studio of brass musicians of all ages in all brass instruments. His students regularly place well in their school ensembles, and a have been successfully accepted into regional honor ensembles.