Robert Mattessi

Robert Mattessi began learning the trumpet at age 10, shortly afterwards joining the Mordialloc Brass Band and Jazz Orchestra in Kingston, Victoria, about 100km from Melbourne. This began Rob’s enduring connection with community music. 

Rob gained a Bachelor of Music and Arts at the University of Melbourne, studying trumpet with Tristram Williams. He won the Barzcik prize for the best brass recital in his second year. During his studies, Rob undertook an exchange at the Chicago College of Performing Arts in the USA. In 2010, Rob performed as principal trumpet on the Australian Youth Orchestra’s international tour. 

Rob began his professional career in Melbourne, performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria, then later with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra in Sydney. In 2016, Rob travelled to Berlin to complete a Master of Music degree at the Hanns Eisler Conservatory during which time he regularly performed with the German State Opera.  Since 2020, Rob Mattessi has lived and taught music in the Blue Mountains area, west of Sydney.

Rob has extensive experience as a brass teacher, having taught trumpet for 20 years. His former students have gone on to careers in jazz improvisation, orchestral performance and conducting. He has taught brass instruments and conducted bands at Frankston High School in Melbourne and Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in Sydney, and has undertaken conducting training with Roland Yeung and Max McBride. 

Having taught music in primary and secondary schools, Rob currently teaches music at Katoomba High School. He is also the music director of the Blue Mountains City Band in Katoomba, where he plays cornet. He lives in Springwood with his wife and three children. In 2026, Rob commenced his appointment as conductor/music director of Blue Mountains Concert Band and Mountains Youth Band. 

In both his teaching and community music leadership, Rob focuses on the joy that music brings to performers and audiences. He strives to provide support, energy and expertise to developing musicians of all ages and abilities.