University of Rhode Island fourth-year tuba player Matthew Gervin built his final recital around a balance of tradition and experimentation.
Gervin opened the performance with “Cello Suite No. 2,” a classic work composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in the 1700s, but added an electronic component as his own creative twist.
“I’ve always had adoration for the Bach Cello Suites,” Gervin said. “I’ve always had a fascination with strange music that isn’t normal, so electronic accompaniment is not a standard thing. I want to bring attention to that.”
Gervin said the final piece in his program, assigned during his sophomore year, demanded long-term discipline.
“I got discouraged a lot, but I made it through it,” Gervin said.
Associate teaching professor of collaborative piano, David Gilliland, who accompanied the recital and first taught Gervin in freshman-year music theory, said the performance showcased a much larger, more confident sound shaped over four years.
“His sound has gotten much bigger over the course of his studies here,” Gilliland said. “He’s been able to control his breath support much more, doing much more technically difficult things.”
Gilliland also described Gervin’s choices for his repertoire as adventurous and fitting for his musical personality.
“Matthew likes pieces in particular that are off the beaten path so it’s fun to see his musical tastes,” Gilliland said. “He tends to be drawn toward things on the electronic side of things.”
Gervin said he hopes to bring that same mix of rigor and openness into the classroom as he pursues a career in music education.
“Here, I’ve noticed it’s less about being the best and more about bringing everyone else up with you,” Gervin said.
Gervin credited URI’s collaborative environment for shaping his leadership style across ensembles and teaching settings. He cited advice from his music education professors that reframed mistakes as an essential part of growth.
“Who cares?” Gervin said. “Make a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, and that really shaped how I live now.”
Gervin began his low brass path in fifth grade on the euphonium before gravitating toward the tuba’s lower range. He named Joanna Ross Hersey’s “1112,” inspired by Gregorian chant, as a foundational influence. Other works on his program, including “The New England Referees,” allowed him to explore both lyrical phrasing and technical drive.
“I’m drawn to the sound of low instruments,” Gervin said.
Before performances, Gervin said he focuses more on mindset than micromanaging details.
“I can bomb it, I can do amazing, it’s all about my mindset,” Gervin said. “I’m going to go out there and do my best.”
He said that the approach helps him stay grounded under pressure and keep the emphasis on musical communication rather than perfection. It’s a lesson he hopes to pass on to his future students. After graduation, Gervin plans to teach ideally at the middle school level while continuing to perform.
Gilliland called Gervin a prepared and humble collaborator, noting that even as drum major, he never let leadership drift into ego.
“You would think he would have a big ego, but Matt doesn’t at all,” Gilliland said. “He’s just very easy to work with, always comes prepared and makes my job that much easier.”
He said the recital’s mix of canonical and contemporary music reflects the kind of musical world he wants his students to experience: one where tradition is respected and curiosity about new sounds is encouraged.
“It’s about bringing people up with you,” Gervin said. “And making space for music that surprises you.”
As Gervin’s time as a URI musician comes to a close, he hopes to keep his unique style of tradition with a modern twist and be able to pass his knowledge on so that more can be inspired by his methods of making music.
