Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Matt Gajewski began studying piano in the first grade and took up the guitar in middle school, teaching himself how to play Beatles songs and Weezer’s Blue Album as his local radio station of choice progressed from WOLX (oldies) to WMAD (alt-rock) to WORT (bluegrass, jazz, indie rock, spoken word, reggae, etc). In high school he composed and recorded his first original songs and was the guitarist for Jazz West, Madison West High School’s jazz orchestra. He studied music engineering, jazz guitar, and computer science at the University of Miami and earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 2006. In college he joined the rock band van*gloria, which released two albums (S/T and Bluebird), and later recorded another album with the folk/pop group Sirens & Sealions, while also performing in the pit orchestra for musicals, composing scores for short films and the documentary West Grove: A Sense of Place, recording and producing the music/literary podcast Pure Imagination, serving as a piano accompanist for schools, churches, and choral programs, teaching gifted English and social studies at Downtown Miami Charter School and pull-out tutoring math and writing at Coral Gables High School, and instructing guitar, piano, and bass students of all ages. Matt currently resides in West Orange, New Jersey where he lives with his wife and two children.