A Wisconsin native, Dr. Matthew Onstad serves as Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he teaches all things trumpet, coaches chamber music, and performs with the Whitewater Brass Quintet. He has held the position of Principal Trumpet with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra since 2022 and is the newest addition to the internationally renowned brass quintet Meridian Arts Ensemble.
Heralded for his "wonderful, open sound, and beautiful interpretations," Dr. Onstad's solo performances have included engagements with many regional orchestras and ensembles throughout the Midwest. A champion of new music and advocate for underrepresented composers, Dr. Onstad has commissioned and premiered works for trumpet and other brass chamber ensembles while actively concertizing around the nation.
In 2020, Dr. Onstad completed an album titled In Memoriam in fulfillment of his doctoral research. This collection of works consists of compositions written for trumpet and piano in memoriam of an iconic musical composer, family, or idea. In Memoriam features debut recorded works by Bruce Broughton, Kyle David Frost, Mirosław Gąsieniec, Edward Gregson, and James Stephenson, and is available on all music platforms.
While earning his DMA and MM degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Onstad served the Mead Witter School of Music as a Project Assistant performing with the Wisconsin Brass Quintet, a faculty ensemble-in-residence. He holds the rank of Staff Sergeant in the 132nd Wisconsin Army National Guard Band and has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Meridian Arts Ensemble, and the Isthmus Brass. Dr. Onstad held the position of Principal Trumpet with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra from 2016-2021.
Dr. Onstad has previously taught trumpet at St. Ambrose University, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He has served as a master clinician with the Meridian Arts Ensembles, Wisconsin Brass Quintet, the 132nd Army Band, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra throughout the United States. He received his BM from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. His primary teachers include John Aley, Alex Noppe, Jean Laurenz, Marty Robinson, and Robert Levy. Dr. Onstad performs exclusively on Yamaha trumpets and Toshi mouthpieces.
Dr. Onstad resides in Middleton, WI with his wife, Beth and their two boys, Elliot and Benji.
