Dear Matt,

Congratulations on your retirement, and for the countless contributions you’ve made to Brown over the last three-plus decades. Through your talent, creativity, direction and inspiration, you have helped shape the University community through music. You have curated an enduring legacy through the students you have taught and mentored — many of whom have gone on to great accomplishment in the field – and through the colleagues you have influenced and the hundreds of significant University events that you made all the more magical and memorable.

Jazz is jazz at Brown because of you, and your leadership of the Wind Symphony and iconic Brown Band has made a difference for the individual student musicians, and for our entire community. You have exemplified the very best of Brown – always pushing for excellence, cultivating community and exploring – through your knowledge and skill – what it means to be human.

Thank you for 36 years of service, and enjoy this next, well-deserved stanza of life.

Warmest regards,

Rick