Matt A. Mason
composer, pianist, and educator
Biography
Matt A. Mason is a distinguished composer, pianist, and educator whose work spans across multiple genres, including contemporary classical, electroacoustic, and music theater. Currently an Assistant Professor of Musicianship at Roosevelt University, Chicago, Matt teaches courses in music theory, composition, and performance. His teaching interests reflect his expertise in post-tonal music theory, electroacoustic music, and diverse musical genres, with courses on Music Theory, Hip Hop Musicology, and Advanced Composition.
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Dr. Mason holds a Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Iowa (2023), alongside Master's degrees in Piano Performance and Music Composition from Butler University (2019), and a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Illinois Wesleyan University (2016). He has developed a reputation as a composer, pianist, and producer, creating works that challenge traditional musical boundaries and incorporate technology, multimedia, and cultural studies.
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Matt is the founder and artistic director of the New Third Space Ensemble and has been a prolific composer with works commissioned by various organizations, including the Illinois State Music Teachers Association and the IoWinds Alliance. His compositions have been featured in prestigious festivals, such as the American Composers Orchestra Earshot Recordings and the Spark Theater NYC Festival. Matt has a long-running collaboration with filmmaker Christina Hughes, with their recent work “Un-Contained” selected for multiple international dance film festivals in 2025. He has worked with prestigious ensembles such as the JACK Quartet, Ensemble Dal Niente, Hypercube Ensemble, LIGAMENT, Flannau Duo, Out of the Box, Random Access Music, and more.
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In addition to his performance and compositional work, Mason has contributed scholarly articles and reviews to Piano Magazine and has presented his research at conferences such as the Society for Ethnomusicology and the College Music Society. His interests in gender, identity, and flow within rap music have led to groundbreaking gender-oriented performance analyses and presentations on artists like Nicki Minaj, Eminem, and Tyler the Creator.
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Matt’s interdisciplinary approach, commitment to exploring diverse musical forms, and advocacy for inclusivity within music continue to shape his evolving career.
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Matt A. Mason
Assistant Professor of Musicianship
Chicago College of the Performing Arts
Roosevelt University
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