Matt Catingub

Principal Pops Conductor

Matt Catingub, who becomes the NMSO's Principal Pops Conductor in the 2010/2011 season, is a musician of many talents: saxophonist, woodwind artist, conductor, pianist, vocalist, performer, director, composer and arranger. The youngest son of great jazz vocalist Mavis Rivers, he was introduced to music through his mother's albums for Capitol Records and Frank Sinatra's Reprise label.

In 1983, he formed the Matt Catingub Big Band, securing the services of his mom as featured vocalist on the first album, My Mommy and Me. The album brought Mr. Catingub world popularity, culminating with a Royal Variety Performance for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip in New Zealand. His sophomore album, Hi-Tech Big Band, released in 1984, was a technological achievement: he recreated the sound of a big band by playing every instrument himself on multiple tracks.

Matt has been the conductor for the Honolulu Symphony Pops since 1998, conducting, performing and producing 90 percent of the arrangements and orchestrations played by the orchestra.

His music was heard in the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind. Most recently, he wrote the music for George Clooney's Goodnight and Good Luck. The soundtrack went on to win a Grammy in 2005.

For more information, visit mattcatingub.com.