As a performer, Matthew Allison has traversed the spectrum as a soloist and collaborator in professional chamber, band, and orchestra ensembles. His orchestra experiences include the Harrisburg Symphony and as principal flute of the Lancaster Chamber Orchestra; he has been a featured soloist in concertos with the Alton Symphony, the Lancaster Chamber Orchestra, the Edwardsville Symphony, and the Belleville Philharmonic. His band experiences took him on a ten-day tour of China; more recently was included in three missions with the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, where he can be heard on their Blue Horizons and Beyond CD. Passionate about promoting relevant works by living composers, he was a founding member of the new music group NakedEye Ensemble, and is part of the Storylines Crossing CD released through Starkland Records. Believing that music helps connect people, he performs and promotes music by composers from every inhabited continent - of every background, gender, race, and religion - and is affiliated with the Intercultural Music Initiative to further those efforts.

With over 20 years of experience teaching as a flute specialist affiliated with nationally accredited music schools, Matthew Allison operates Allison Flute Studio in Metro St. Louis, and curates the virtual music tutorial site PracticeFlute.com. Previously, he held teaching positions at Lindenwood University (Flute Instructor, Woodwind Ensemble director, New Music Ensemble director), Western Illinois University (Instructor of Flute), the Pennsylvania Academy of Music (Chair of Theory/Composition, Chair of Winds, Flute Instructor), at the University of Kansas (Graduate Teaching Assistant Flute/Band), and as teaching artist for Gemeinhardt Flutes. He has run virtual courses in affiliation with the Flute Center of New York and for the Flute World Collective.  He has performed, taught, and adjudicated at universities and organizations across the nation.

His music training led to a Doctor of Music Arts and a Master of Music in flute performance from the University of Kansas, studying under David Fedele, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Louisville, studying under Kathleen Karr and Don Gottlieb.  Other teachers include Dr. Wendy Hymes, Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish, and Cheryl Sabo.  

As a certified and experienced yoga instructor, he also offers workshops on physically and mentally preparing for auditions and performances.  Dr. Allison is also a certified trainer in the DeBono Thinking Methods, established by Dr. Edward deBono, to assist in discovering how the mind works in learning and patterning. 

​Matthew Allison is a Tomasi Flutes Artist, and records and performs on their S10 with C# trill and grenadilla lip.

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