Michael K. Mathews, director of instrumental studies and professor of music at Missouri Western State College, teaches music theory and low brass. He holds the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in trombone performance, music theory and music history from Michigan State University. He has been on the music faculty at MWSC since 1978. Dr. Mathews has been an active solo and ensemble performer for over forty years, performing in many parts of the world in a wide variety of styles from symphony orchestra to polka band and from Dixieland jazz to jazz-rock fusion.

Dr. Mathews is also an active composer and arranger who has written commissioned works for the Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Tucson, Arizona, Symphony Orchestras and for the First Presbyterian Church of St. Joseph, Missouri. He has a number of published works for solo low brass instruments and brass ensembles. He is also the author of textbooks for two of his classes at MWSC. Currently he spends his summers as the conductor of the Cameron, Missouri, Municipal Band and arranging for the MWSC Marching Band.