Biography
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Matthew Inkster is Associate Professor and Director of Bands at West Liberty State College where he conducts the Wind and Jazz Ensembles, coordinates the brass area, and serves Assistant Department Chair. Inkster is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician—most recently conducting honor and select groups in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, California, and New York. He has specialized in conducting the music of our time, and his performances have been heard on national and regional NPR and worldwide on the BBC.
Dr. Inkster is Artistic Co-Director of Winds on the Lake, a professional chamber ensemble of some of the finest musicians from the greater Tri-State Lake Region including Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Erie. Reception of this ensemble has been warm and accolades have been numerous. The group is committed to the performance and promotion of seldom-heard compositions for chamber and orchestral winds by familiar composers, as well as works by contemporary composers. The ensemble plans to extend its season from its current three concerts per year to six or more by touring in an expanded geographic area.
Inkster is also active as a trumpet soloist, recitalist, and clinician and has performed in 45 states and across Europe. He is Principal Trumpet of the Symphony of the Mountains (Tennessee/ Virginia), and has held similar positions with the
- Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra,
- Chapman Symphony Orchestra, and
- Redlands Symphony Orchestras (California).
He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, and he has competed in a number of the most prestigious trumpet competitions across the world:
- Prague Spring International Music Competition,
- International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition,
- National Trumpet Competition, and
- MTNA National Collegiate Artist Competition.
Dr. Inkster is the WVMEA Research and Grants Chair and has recently served as the Composition Contest Chairman for the International Trumpet Guild. He has a number of research articles submitted for publication in the Journal of the International Trumpet Guild and in the Journal of Research in Music Education.
A native of Wyoming, he holds the degrees:
- Doctor of Music — The Florida State University,
- Master of Music — University of Redlands, and
- Bachelor of Music Education — University of Wyoming.
Dr. Inkster has taught in the public schools of Wyoming, California, and Florida.
