Matt Saunders is rapidly becoming one of the best young Irish musicians in America. Matt was introduced to Irish music at the age of five when he first heard the super group Lúnasa's debut album.  He picked up the tin whistle at the age of thirteen and has been playing tunes ever since.

Based out of Orlando, Florida, he is a member of the Irish band, The Crooked Road.  Matt has been instructed by the renowned Irish flute player, Justin Murphy, and has taken various classes with legendary musicians Kevin Crawford, John Wynne, Tom Doorley, and John Skelton.  Matt is an accomplished flute, tin whistle, and DADGAD guitarist.  He has performed at Riverhawk Music Festival 2010 as well as in the headline ceili band for Celtic Fest Mississippi 2009 with Liz Carroll, Billy McComiskey, Daithi Sproule, and the traditional Irish band, Legacy.  He recently placed first in under eighteen concert flute in the 2010 North American Fleadh held in Pearl River, New York.

Matt has been featured on several news media outlets including Ireland's national radio program, RTE One's Ceili House, Orlando's CBS affliation WCPX, Tampa Bay Online, and The Seminole Chronicle.

Matt has been greatly influenced by the playing of Kevin Crawford, Jean-Michel Veillon, and some Northern styles. He enjoys Breton, Scottish, Galician, and Bulgarian music.  Matt has been accepted into the University of Limerick's esteemed Irish World Academy of Music and Dance where he will attend beginning the fall of 2011 while pursuing his BA degree in Traditional Irish Music and Dance.

Flutes made by Pol Jezequel.  Whistles by Ronaldo Reyburn and Phil Hardy.

"Now that's the stuff I like to listen to. He's a very good player."  -Mike Rafferty