Multi-talented musician Matt Catingub is generating excitement throughout the entertainment industry for his unique abilities as a conductor, composer, arranger, instrumentalist, and singer. Recently appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the newly formed Glendale Pops Orchestra, Matt previously held positions as Pops Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor of the New Mexico Symphony, where he has consistently garnered praise for his innovative pops programming.
A prolific arranger, Matt has developed such a substantial library of his own charts that he is able to put together shows in virtually every genre of music from big band, to the Rat Pack, to Motown, to 80’s hits, to smooth and classic jazz. He has also made a specialty of arranging and orchestrating symphonic shows for major international artists, thereby enabling them to work with orchestras. In this capacity he has worked with names such as Rosemary Clooney, Diana Krall, Kenny Loggins, Michael Feinstein, John Pizzarelli, Toto, Michael Mc Donald, and more. As a conductor, he has appeared with ensembles including the symphony orchestras of Cincinnati, Columbus, Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville, Oregon, St. Louis, and Utah, among others. Recent and upcoming engagements include returns to the Cincinnati Symphony, Columbus Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and New Hampshire Music Festival, as well as debuts with the Hartford, Victoria, and Omaha symphonies ... read full bio
Multi-talented musician Matt Catingub is generating excitement throughout the entertainment industry for his unique abilities as a conductor, composer, arranger, instrumentalist, and singer. Recently appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the newly formed Glendale Pops Orchestra, Matt previously held positions as Pops Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor of the New Mexico Symphony, where he has consistently garnered praise for his innovative pops programming.
A prolific arranger, Matt has developed such a substantial library of his own charts that he is able to put together shows in virtually every genre of music from big band, to the Rat Pack, to Motown, to 80’s hits, to smooth and classic jazz. He has also made a specialty of arranging and orchestrating symphonic shows for major international artists, thereby enabling them to work with orchestras. In this capacity he has worked with names such as Rosemary Clooney, Diana Krall, Kenny Loggins, Michael Feinstein, John Pizzarelli, Toto, Michael Mc Donald, and more. As a conductor, he has appeared with ensembles including the symphony orchestras of Cincinnati, Columbus, Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Nashville, Oregon, St. Louis, and Utah, among others. Recent and upcoming engagements include returns to the Cincinnati Symphony, Columbus Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and New Hampshire Music Festival, as well as debuts with the Hartford, Victoria, and Omaha symphonies.
Largely self-taught, Matt began learning the piano at age seven before switching to the alto saxophone at 16. A year later he was asked to play at the Monterey Jazz Festival, shortly thereafter becoming the youngest member of the Louie Bellson Big Band and establishing himself as a premiere jazz musician. During this time, Matt also began earning a reputation as a world-class big band arranger/composer. Over the years, Matt has formed his own bands including the Matt Catingub Big Band, the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii, and Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack, which released three albums, the last of which (Sentimental Journey, featuring Rosemary Clooney) received a Grammy nomination in 2002. That same year, Matt conducted the Honolulu Symphony in Rosemary Clooney’s final concert, which later became a Grammy nominated album entitled The Last Concert.
In 2005, Matt’s work on the soundtrack for George Clooney’s “Goodnight and Good Luck” did lead to a Grammy win. The movie features his arrangements and tenor sax playing, as well as an onscreen appearance. His music can also be heard in the Oscar-winning film “A Beautiful Mind.” Additional work has included positions as conductor for singers Jack Jones and Toni Tennille. He went on to produce and co-produce several recordings including Tennille’s Never let Me Go, Things are Swingin’, and Captain and Tennille.
Born to parents of Polynesian island descent, Matt is the youngest son of great jazz vocalist Mavis Rivers. He was introduced to music through his mother’s albums for Capitol Records and Frank Sinatra’s Reprise label and performed along side her until her passing in 1992. To this day, her influence, both musically and culturally, continues to inspire Matt’s work.
Audio Clips:
Rosemary Clooney Overture (Arrangement and Orchestration by Matt Catingub)
You Go To My Head (Vocal by Rosemary Clooney. Arrangement, Orchestration, and Piano solo by Matt Catingub)
Pretty Woman (Arrangement, Orchestration, Vocal, and Alto Sax solo by Matt Catingub)
Last updated May 2011. Contact Opus 3 Artists for the most up-to-date version.
