Matthew Guilford

One of the foremost bass trombonists of his generation, Matthew Guilford was appointed solo bass trombonist of the National Symphony Orchestra by Mstislav (Slava) Rostropovich in 1991. He has performed with several of America’s leading orchestras including the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Symphony. He has also performed with Music of the Baroque, Chicago Chamber Musicians, Grand Teton Music Festival and Arizona Music Festival. 

He holds bachelor and master of music degrees from New England Conservatory, and earned orchestral fellowships to Tanglewood and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute. 

Guilford has appeared as guest soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, La Orquesta Sinfonica de Santa Fe (Argentina), the U.S. Army Band and Orchestra (Pershing’s Own), The Eastman Wind Ensemble and the Harvard University Band. His solo and chamber music recordings, The Road Not Taken with The Washington Trombone Ensemble and Brass Trios with the University of Maryland Brass Trio have been received to worldwide critical acclaim.

As a proponent of new music, since 2010 he has commissioned and co-commissioned over a dozen new works for solo bass trombone, contrabass trombone and trombone ensemble. Guilford also authored the book 17 Advanced Etudes for Bass Trombone, published by Ensemble Publications in 2022.

He has presented solo recitals and master classes at top universities, conservatories and festivals around the globe. His students have gone on to successful performing and educational careers in the U.S. and abroad.