SPEAKING
2024 - Matt is a presenter for the International Conference on Arts and Humanities (Japan).
2024 - Matt is a presenter for the International Conference on Arts and Humanities (Peru).
2024 - Matt is a presenter for the International Arts in Society Conference (South Korea).
2024 - Matt is a presenter for the International Conference on Arts & Humanities (Sri Lanka).
2024 - Matt is a presenter for the International DisNet Conference (England).
2024 - Matt is a presenter for the Youth and Government Conference (Raleigh, NC).
2024 - Matt is a returning guest musical theatre educator for Garner Performing Arts Center.
2024 - Matt is an invited talent judge for the Garner Performing Arts Center.
2023 - Matt is a guest musical theatre educator for Garner Performing Arts Center.
2023 - Matt is a returning invited artist lecturer for the WCC Arts & Humanities Series (NC).
2023 - Matt is a presenter for the International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society (Greece).
2023 - Matt is a presenter for the International Arts in Society Conference (Poland).
2023 - Matt is an invited humanities lecturer for Southern New Hampshire University.
2022 - Matt is an invited speaker for the University of Arkansas Education Department (speaking to PhD candidates).
2022 - Matt is invited to be a mentoring instructor at School of Rock (NC).
2022 - Matt leads a masterclass workshop at the North Carolina Thespian Festival.
2021 - Matt is an invited artist lecturer for the WCC Arts & Humanities Series (NC).
2021 - Matt is an invited speaker for the Enloe High School Chapter National English Society.
2021 - Matt is an invited speaker for Whitefield Academy Drama (KY)
2021 - Matt is an invited speaker for the NCSU Art & Design School.
2021 - Matt is an invited speaker for East Coast Game Conference.
2021 - Matt is an invited speaker for the NCSU Music Theory Club.
2021 - Matt is an invited speaker for the UNC-Chapel Hill Religious Studies Department.
2021 - Matt is an invited presenter for the CIVAE International Arts Conference (Spain)
2021 - Matt is an Invited presenter for the Artists Thrive National Conference (NC)
2021 - Matt leads a masterclass workshop at the North Carolina Thespian Festival.
2019 - Matt is an invited speaker for the NCSU Art & Design School.
2019 - Matt is a presenter at the WPU International Conference (NC)
2017 - Matt is a presenter for the IJAS International Conference (Austria).
2017 - Matt is a presenter for the NCCC Fine Arts Conference (NC)
2016 - Matt is a presenter for the IJAS International Conference (Harvard University).
2015 - Matt is a presenter for the International Arts in Society Conference (Italy).
2015 - Matt leads a workshop for Stage Right Acting (KY)
2010 - Matt's work is presented at the MathFest National Conference (KY)
2010 - Matt is a guest lecturer for Governor Scholar Program at Center College.
2010 - Matt is a guest lecturer for Governor Scholar Program at Bellarmine University.
2009 - Matt is a guest lecturer for Governor Scholar Program at Center College.
AWARDS/HONORS
2024 - Matt wins a "Best Presenter" award at the International Conference of Arts & Humanities (based in Colombo, Sri Lanka)
2024 - Matt is nominated for the WPU McCormick Distinguished Faculty Award.
2024 - Matt joins the College Advisory Panel for the North Carolina Museum of Art.
2024 - Matt is a judge for the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate Acappella Semifinals.
2023 - Matt is nominated for the WPU McCormick Distinguished Faculty Award.
2023 - Matt is declared the winner of the nearly two year long "Disney Showdown" on the Notably Disney Podcast (a fun-filled competition against Disney 'experts' and 'professionals' from various locations across the country).
2022 - Matt is a judge for the Marvin Hamlisch International Film Score Competition.
2022 - Matt is a judge for the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate Acappella Semifinals.
2022 - Gotham City Sounds: The Music of Batman Villains wins a Literary Titan Gold Book Award.
2021 - Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney announced as a Distinguished Favorite for the NYC Big Book Award.
2021 - Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney nominated for the Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award.
2021 - Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney wins an Independent Press Award (Music Category).
2021 - Matt is a judge for the Marvin Hamlisch International Film Score Competition.
2021 - Matt is announced as a promoted WPU Associated Professor.
2020 - Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney wins a Best Independent Book Award (Nonfiction Category).
2020 - Matt is a judge for the Marvin Hamlisch International Film Score Competition.
2020 - Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney wins a Nonfiction Authors Association Gold Award.
2020 - Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney wins a Literary Titan Silver Book Award.
2020 - Matt is nominated for the WPU McCormick Distinguished Faculty Award.
2019 - Matt is announced as 1st Runner Up for WPU Bingham Award for Campus Excellence.
2019 - Matt is a judge for the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate Acappella Quarterfinals.
2019 - Matt is nominated for the WPU McCormick Distinguished Faculty Award.
2019 - Matt is a judge for the Marvin Hamlisch International Film Score Competition.
2016 - Matt is a judge for the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate Acappella Quarterfinals.
2015 - Matt is a judge for the CINE International Film Score Competition.
INTERVIEWS/FEATURES
2024 - Matt is interviewed on the Music Behind the Magic podcast discussing his works.
2024 - Matt returns as a guest on the Notably Disney Podcast discussing Disney music.
2023 - Matt is interviewed on CBS 17 News for the new Interdisciplinary Arts program he created and co-directs.
2023 - Matt is interviewed as a local professional creative artist for Bold Journey magazine.
2023 - Matt is interviewed as a local professional creative artist for Canvas Rebel magazine.
2023 - Matt is interviewed on the Notably Disney Podcast about his review of Hercules (Paper Mill Playhouse) from a professor and industry insider perspective.
2023 - Matt returns a member of a group panel on the Notably Disney Podcast.
2022 - Matt is interviewed as a local professional creative artist for the "Hidden Gem" series of VoyageRaleigh magazine.
2022 - Matt is interviewed as a local professor for a feature WRAL Article.
2022 - Matt is interviewed by Literary Titan for about book Gotham City Sounds: The Music of Batman Villains.
2022 - Matt is interviewed on the Book of the Mouse Club Podcast about his book Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney.
2021 - Matt returns as a member of a group panel on the Notably Disney Podcast.
2021 - Matt is featured on a group panel on the Notably Disney Podcast.
2021 - Matt is the cover and featured article for The Campbellsvillian Alumni Magazine.
2021 - Matt is interviewed for a feature article in PEACE Magazine.
2021 - Matt is interviewed on the Notably Disney Podcast about his book Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney.
2021 - Matt is featured in Musicoguia Magazine.
2020 - Matt is interviewed by Literary Titan about his book Cool Cats and a Hot Mouse: A History of Jazz and Disney.
2019 - Matt is featured as a professor in an online article for William Peace University.
2018 - Matt is interviewed on Entertainment, Arts, and Education Podcast.