WELCOMING MATT SALLEE!
MMEA is very excited to announce that Matt Sallee, member of Pentatonix and Maryland All State alum, will be a featured guest speaker and clinician at the 2024 Annual State Conference and All State Weekend!
We are also excited to offer an opportunity for Maryland a cappella groups (collegiate & high school) to apply for a clinic with Mr. Sallee.
The clinic will take place in Baltimore, on Friday, February 23, 2024.
Click here for information about the 2024 Annual State Conference.
BIO
Above all, Matt Sallee considers himself a team player. His instantly recognizable bass tone rumbles straight from the soul as a strong and supple foundation for collaborators to shine just as brightly as he does. The show-stopping vocalist, artist, and member of Pentatonix instantly captivates in any arena—whether on the stage of a legendary venue or solo in the recording booth. As such, acapella represents not only a creative, but a personal and spiritual calling for him.
“You need everyone to make acapella the best it can be,” he notes. “That’s what I love about it. One part doesn’t work without the other. Every element is necessary to the sound and the arrangement, and we reach new heights by relying on one another. I’ve always believed acapella is a beautiful depiction of what it looks like to have unity and togetherness.”
Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, music surrounded Matt from day one. His dad worked as a music pastor and invited him on stage at just five-years-old. The budding vocalist’s rendition of “Think About His Love” left the congregation in awe. Mom also sang, while his older brother played drums and piano and younger sister excelled at violin. Growing up, he honed his voice by participating in church plays, local, county, and state choirs, and school musicals. He even performed at the Kennedy Center as a member of his high school’s Madrigal Choir. As if heralding the future, he attended the Sing Strong competition in Virginia during 2012 where he serendipitously met Pentatonix producer and vocal arranger Ben Bram and snapped a photo alongside his future bandmates!
He gained admission into the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston and joined award-winning acapella sensation Pitch Slapped. The group went on to win the 2014 International Competition of Collegiate Acapella (ICCA). Post-graduation, he logged time in The House Jacks and reconnected with Bram. One day, the producer invited him to audition for a “secret” upcoming acapella tour.
Without knowing it, Matt would be vying for his dream gig—and Pentatonix chose him as their second bass singer in 2017.
“With God behind me, I felt like everything I had done prepared me for this specific role,” he says. “When the opportunity presented itself, I was humbled and grateful. I had so much excitement and joy. We’ve hit the ground running ever since.”
He made his debut with the group on the platinum-certified A Pentatonix Christmas: Deluxe in 2017, which boasted highlights such as “How Great Thou Art” featuring Jennifer Hudson. His voice boomed on a trio of successive Billboard 200 Top 10 albums, namely PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I [2018], Christmas Is Here! [2018], and The Best of Pentatonix Christmas [2019]. Plus, he lent his songwriting to The Lucky Ones [2021] in addition to performing on Evergreen [2021], which garnered a GRAMMY® Award nod in the category of “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.” Along the way, he treasured collaborations with the likes of Kelly Clarkson as well as the gold-certified “Do You Heart What I Hear?” with Whitney Houston. Among other highlights, he appeared on the mega-popular cover of “The Sound of Silence,” graced the stage of Madison Square Garden, ignited the national anthem at College Football Playoffs at SoFi Stadium, and partook in the group’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony. Outside of music, he remains an avid basketball and football fan and dedicates as much time as possible to his family.
Ultimately, Matt devotes his all to any team he’s on.
“I’m living proof dreams come true,” he leaves off. “I’d love for my story to inspire you. I wouldn’t be anywhere without my faith, and I’m going to continue to follow my dream into the next phase of Pentatonix and life. I’ve got a lot to say, and I’m going to keep pulling back the curtain and showing the world who I am.”
Click here to learn about the A Cappella Clinic & Showcase, on Saturday Feb 24, 2023 - At The 2024 Annual State Conference.
