Matthew D. Beresik – Biography

    Matthew D. Beresik has been actively involved in public school music education for nearly ten years. He currently serves as the Director of Bands at Highlands High School in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. He has been at Highlands since the fall of 2006. The instrumental music program at HHS consists of the Varsity Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Stage Band, Jazz Combo, Pep Band and Pit Orchestra. He also serves as a production staff member and co-director of the spring musicals.

Prior to his position at Highlands, Mr. Beresik served the New Brighton Area School District in Beaver County Pennsylvania. While at New Brighton he oversaw the Marching Lion Pride, high school Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, Brass Choir, Concert Band and Pit Orchestra. In addition to his high school band duties, Mr. Beresik was the co-founder, -director, -producer and technical director for the spring musical productions. He also served as the Fifth Grade Band Director for the elementary school. He holds professional memberships in PMEA, MENC, IAJE, and TI:ME.

Mr. Beresik earned is bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in Trumpet and Instrumental Conducting from Grove City College. He studied trumpet under Susan E. Sexton, conducting with Louis Colella and Edwin P. Arnold, completed his studies in music education under Edgar S. Groves, and jazz studies with good friend and colleague Joe Pisano. He holds a Pennsylvania Instructional II Teaching Certificate in Music (grades K-12). In May of 2007, he received his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Franciscan University.

Mr. Beresik’s honors and accolades include: nominations to the Teacher Excellence Center from students in both the Highlands and New Brighton School Districts; Outstanding Pit Orchestra nominations through the Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Award Program; acceptance into the TAP Theatre Honorary; graduating with honors, nomination to the Dean’s List, and acceptance into the KDP Education Honorary at both Grove City College and Franciscan University. He has also received acceptance into the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, as well as America’s Colleges and Universities.

Mr. Beresik’s experience in education has afforded him several professional opportunities and privileges. His directorial credits in musical theatre include: The Wizard of Oz, Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, Singin’ in the Rain, Annie, and Footloose. He has hosted several Countywide Marching and Honors Concert Band Festivals. In March of 2003, dear friend and colleague Travis Weller honored him with a request to serve as the Guest Conductor for the Mercer – Wilmington Combined Middle School Band Concert. From 1997-2000 Mr. Beresik also assisted the Mercer band program by facilitating a trumpet studio for students in grades 5-8. Mr. Beresik is also a former member of the Beaver County Judges Committee for the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts.

While at New Brighton High School, he instituted an annual visiting artist-in-residence program. This endeavor created educational and performance opportunities for all instrumental students in the program (grades 5-12). Artists that have worked with his students include: Chase Sanborn – Trumpeter formerly with the Ray Charles Orchestra; Clarence Banks – Trombonist with the Count Basie Orchestra; Karolina Strassmayer – Grammy Award nominated saxophonist and former Lead Alto with the “DIVA” Jazz Orchestra and Duke Ellington Orchestra; Mike Vax – former Lead Trumpet for the Stan Kenton Orchestra and Leader of the Kenton All-Star Alumni Big Band; and Tenor Saxophonist Ralph Lalama – formerly with the Buddy Rich and Woody Herman Big Bands, and now with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Mr. Beresik was also a founding member, former vice president and musical director for the Trinity Music Group and Trinity Jazz Orchestra which assisted in instituting this artist-in-residence program and served as the cornerstone ensemble for the annual performances.

While completing his undergraduate work at Grove City College, Mr. Beresik served as an audio-visual technician and key-holder for the PEW Fine Arts Building. His experience with the college’s Guest Artist Program granted him once in a lifetime opportunities with work behind the scenes with such acts as Doc Severinsen, Marvin Hamlisch, The Canadian Brass, The Fabulous Dorsey’s and the Pittsburgh Ballet.

Mr. Beresik enjoys freelance trumpet work as an accomplished wedding soloist, brass choir and pit orchestra musician. His performance credits include: Oklahoma!, Titanic, Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Mame, A Chorus Line, Damn Yankees, Copacabana, and Once Upon a Mattress. He is a former principal trumpet for the Abbey Brass with several Easter Sunday engagements at the Naval Academy in Annopolis, Maryland; a former lead and second trumpet player for the Swingin’ BopCats Big Band; and a former member of the Steel City Brass, King’s Brass, and No Name Brass Choirs. Mr. Beresik is also an active member of the praise and worship team for Northway Christian Community in Wexford, Pennsylvania. He plays on a Conn Vintage One Series #46 1RBSP Professional Bb Trumpet, a Stomvi Elite Series Piccolo Trumpet, a Yamaha YFH-631 #433 Rose Brass Flugelhorn, and Stork Custom Vacchiano and Studio Master Mouthpieces.