Technical Sgt. Matthew Hettwer is the lead trombonist with the Airmen of Note, The United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C. A native of Salem, Oregon, his Air Force career began in 2021 when he was assigned to The United States Air Force Band with the Airmen of Note.
Hettwer earned his Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies from Portland State University and his Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. While at UO, Hettwer held a Graduate Teaching Fellowship as jazz combo director and in 2015 won the International Trombone Association Carl Fontana Competition in Valencia, Spain.
Prior to his service with the United States Air Force Band, Hettwer wan an active member of the Oregon music scene as an arranger and trombonist performing with such groups as Portland Jazz Composer Ensemble, Eugene Composers Big Band, Joe Manis Quartet, Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra, John Gilmore Octet, The Emerald City Jazz Kings, and The Daddies. His teachers include some of the leading jazz musicians in Oregon including John Moak, Stan Bock, George Colligan, Charley Gray, and Steve Owen as well as Los Angeles studio musician and jazz trombonist virtuoso Bob McChesney.