Just Call Him Maestro

Patrick Matthews has been selected to lead the Amherst Town Band.

Born and raised in Nashua, Matthews graduated in 2006 from Nashua High School North, where he won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. He continued his education at the University of Maine in Orono and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, where he played alto sax.

While there, he traveled New England as the principal saxophonist in the UMaine Symphonic Band, performing in venues including Symphony Hall in Boston, Mass., 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. 

Matthews taught in the Brewer School District where he served as 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. 

Matthews resides in Nashua with his wife, Carly and currently serves as a special education assistant at the Lewis F. Soule Elementary School, a volunteer for the Salem High School Music Department, a member of the Hollis Town Band and the Windham Community Band. 

Matthews will take over full conductor responsibility for the Amherst band starting in September when the band’s current conductor, Patricia McMullen, steps down as conductor.