Matsu, was born into a musical family in Yokohama and raised in Tokyo, Japan. He began singing from his infancy and taking organ lessons at the age of four.
  In his high school, joining the school marching band, Matsu started playing the drums and the percussion. After only four years, he won the first prize of Dennis Chambers Drum Competition held by the Japanese drum magazine in 1995. While majoring in accounting in Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan, he began working as a musician. In 1999, he won the first prize and the audience award at the Kichijoji Jazz Contest. He also received the second prize of the Japanese drum magazine drum competition in 2000. In Japan, he performed with many professional musicians, such as a major recording artist Tamaki Mori (Polydor Records), Shin Kazuhara (named "the best trumpeter" in the Japanese studio scene) and the Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band which was established in 1923 and now carries the longest history of any professional symphonic wind orchestra in Japan.
  In 2002 spring, Matsu was a member of the R&B-Jazz-House band, "urb", that had been approached for a contract with Sony Music Japan. However, since he longed for the New York City music scene, a community of musicians from all over the world, he decided to leave the band to pursue his musical study and career in NYC.
  Matsu moved to New York in September 2002. He attended the City College of New York and studied with distinguished professors and musicians, such as John Patitucci, Mike Holober, Neil Clark, Duduka da Fonseca, Adam Cruz, and Ed Simon. The City College gave him the following: the Edward Rensin Memorial Award, The Max E. Greenberg Scholarship, and Doris Field Award. He completed a BFA in jazz performance and was the only BFA music graduate in the class of February 2007 who received the highest honor, Summa Cum Laude.
  While a student, Matsu continued his professional career as a musician. Mr. Hiroyuki Matsuura has performed and/or recorded with Grammy winner, Oriente Lopez; Grammy winning bassist, Hector "Maximo" Rodriguez (Spanish Harlem Orchestra); legendary jazz pianist, Harry Whitaker; famed jazz pianist, Ray Gallon; jazz trombonist and author, Scott Reeves; jazz~gospel singer/Broadway legend, Boncellia Lewis; NY-based Japanese jazz singer, Kaoru Azuma; one of the most active R&B~rock musicians in NY, Shelley Nichole; reggae legend, Milton Henry; unique mix of Latin music and hip hop, Welfare Poets; Venezuelan singer/songwriter, Gustavo Moncada’s Urban Sonora: the busiest band in NY, Yaz Band and many other great musicians in New York and abroad.
  The venues and festivals where Mr. Matsuura has performed include Shea Stadium, The Hammerstein Ballroom, Louis Armstrong House, Soul Cafe, Ashford and Simpson’s Sugar Bar, Cornelia Street Cafe, Knittng Factory, Tritone(Philadelphia), Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park, Aaron Davis Hall, Kumble Theater, Barbes, Big Apple Jazz, Garage, West Chester Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival), Restoration Rocks, Summer Solstice Celebration in Socrates Sculpture Park, and so on.... He performs with the finest jazz, Latin, gospel, rock, R&B, and reggae musicians in the New York City, Tri-State, and New England areas.
