Matt Beckmann

Cellist Matt Beckmann has developed a passion for teaching that is evident in his enthusiastic, and nurturing teaching style. Comfortable with all ages and abilities, Matt has maintained a diverse private studio with three-year-old beginners, high school students preparing for college auditions, and adults taking on cello as a retirement activity! In the fall of 2016, Matt and his wife, Alyssa Beckmann, founded the Kansas City Suzuki Academy.

Before returning to his hometown of Kansas City, Matt had a rich teaching and performing career in the New York City area. Matt participated in long-term Suzuki training at the prestigious School for Strings in New York City, and has been on the faculty of the Greenwich (CT) Suzuki Academy and the Suzuki School of Westport (CT), and spent three years at Music Haven, a non-profit community music program in New Haven, CT. In the summers Matt has taught at the Point CounterPoint camp in Vermont and was recently co-coordinator of the Heartland Chamber Music Junior Festival in Kansas City.

In addition to his passion for teaching, Matt has a diverse performing career as a cellist in Kansas City. Matt was a member of the Kansas City Symphony during their 2014-15 season, and he has also performed with the KC Chamber Orchestra and is a founding member of the Kansas City Cello Quartet. Matt also performs frequently as a recitalist and chamber musician locally and across the Midwest. 

Matt holds a BA from St. Olaf College and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. His primary teachers are Natasha Brofsky and David Carter, and he has benefited greatly from his close work with chamber musicians from the Takacs, Guarneri, and Cleveland Quartets.

Outside of teaching and playing the cello, Matt enjoys cycling, cooking, and eating ribs. Good thing he lives in KC!