Born and raised in Leawood, Kansas, Angelus Matthew C. Roxas began playing piano at the age of three, and after a couple of years, he studied under Ms. Ying-Yu Emily Yeh. He began competing at a young age, and his passion and determination led him to perform four times at Carnegie Hall in New York, an invitation to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, and a performance at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Teatro Studio, in Rome, Italy. He obtained a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance Degree in 2022 at the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory where he studied under Dr. Thomas Rosenkranz. Matthew is currently studying under Dr. Svetozar Ivanov as he pursues a Master of Music in Piano Performance Degree at the University of South Florida with an accompanying assistantship. Matthew teaches as a piano instructor at the USF Community Music Project.

Anime Piano Arranging Class: Wednesdays, 5 PM | 10 classes | FREE to attend

Requirements: some piano experience, a good ear for listening (instrumentation, registration, form, harmonies, melodies, & rhythms); recommended: identify your preferred song/piece/soundtrack music from Anime/Japanese films (optional). With pianist and class creator, Matthew Roxas. First Class: February 7, 2024.

The USF Community Music Project supports our community’s children and adults of all ages and levels to foster engagement with music and the arts through cultivating skills, understanding, and artistry. They offer equitable and inclusive music making and learner-centered arts experiences and promote social and emotional connections between music creation, consumption, and the human condition. Through this program, USF Artist-Faculty and USF music majors offer private lessons, classes, workshops, and events for everyone interested in enjoying and creating music. These opportunities are available for students of nearly all ages (7 and higher) and all levels, ranging from complete beginners through very advanced.

What’s one cool trick/technique/lesson that you’re going to be teaching in your anime piano arrangement class?

One fun lesson will include taking thematic excerpts from various anime and arranging them into different characters and styles (i.e. acoustic, recitative, playing themes in contrasting registers, etc.)!

Why did you choose anime piano arranging?

I choose to arrange anime songs and soundtracks onto the piano because I enjoy playing the music of the anime shows I watch! When I was in high school, I searched for the sheet music of the anime soundtracks I liked, but I had no luck finding them. Eventually, I found the official audio on YouTube, and I played along with the recording, matching the melody and harmonies. After figuring out how to play it, I wanted to make my own version by adding colors and embellishments. This eventually transformed into making my own anime arrangements!

What are three anime soundtracks you’d recommend?

I would recommend listening to the Original Soundtrack (OST) from these three anime:

IRODUKU: The World in Colors

Oshi no Ko

Lycoris Recoil

What’s your favorite song to play?

My favorite anime song to play on the piano is Shitsuren Song Takusan Kiite Naite Bakari no Watashi wa Amou by Riria. As a classical pianist, my favorite piece to play is “Los requiebros” from Goyescas - Los majos enamorados, Op. 11 by Enrique Granados. 

What are the upcoming dates for the anime piano class?

The Anime Piano Arranging Class begins on Wednesday, February 7th from 5:00pm-6:00pm! This free course, which is offered through the USF Community Music Project’s Our Gift to the Community, meets for ten weeks on Wednesdays.