Matthew Gall

Matthew Scott Gall, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away while surrounded by family on June 14, 2016. He was the son of Joseph Scott and Ann Victoria Gall.

Born on November 8, 1987, Matt was a longtime resident of Independence and discovered his passion and immense talent for music while studying guitar with John Svoboda at the Music Arts Institute. At Truman High School, Matt also played in the marching band, the symphonic and jazz bands, and in the pit orchestras for several musicals. He graduated from Truman in 2006.

Throughout his youth and young adulthood, Matt expressed his eclectic taste—and generosity of talent and spirit—playing in/slaying for a number of post-hardcore, emo, and praise bands. In high school Matt played drums in the youth band at East Side Baptist Church and later played lead guitar during worship services—and led youth worship services—at Noland Road Baptist Church. His lifelong pursuit, though, was rock music, and in high school and college Matt joined a number of projects on drums, guitar, and keyboard. With the bands Madeleine, Grizzly J Berry, and Texas Instruments—now American Thunder Band—Matt played to crowded basements and inside emptied pools throughout the Kansas City area, the Midwest, East Coast, and in Austin, Tex., during South by Southwest in 2013—a performance of which he was particularly proud.

Though he excelled at a number of instruments—including the upright bass, electric guitar, drums, and piano—it wasn’t until his undergraduate study at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at UMKC that Matt directed his musical gift toward its summit. Studying under Douglas Niedt, Jr., he developed a love and immense talent for the classical guitar.

“He was an outstanding guitarist and wonderful student,” writes Niedt, Associate Professor of Guitar at UMKC. “He was enthusiastic, practiced like crazy, and a joy to teach. He always came into his lesson with a smile on his face. I remember that well. I also remember him sharing the travails of his rock band.”

As a testament to his love and generosity, he performed the classical guitar at a number of significant events for friends and family, including the weddings of his sister, Katie, and brother Zac.

In addition to his masterful talent as a guitarist, Matt also passed his skill and passion for music onto other students through teaching. By all accounts, Matt was a careful and compassionate teacher. During the final weeks of his life, he made a special connection with a student at MAI—where Matt first began his music career—who considered his lessons with Matt some of the best things that had ever happened to him.

“We at MAI are deeply saddened by Matt's death,” writes Ron Clemons, director. “He was making a wonderful contribution as a teacher here. He and his first student connected so well. To quote the student's mother. ‘Cody dearly loved Matt -- his talent, patience, and his ability to connect. He was the one teacher who was making a difference in Cody’s life.’”

Matt also had a great passion for film, comics, gaming, and literature. He was a voracious reader and enjoyed the work of Roberto Bolaño, John Gardner, H.P. Lovecraft, and Cormac McCarthy. He also enjoyed traveling with his family on vacations and met many great friends through the Japanese Sister City exchange with Higashimurayama, Japan. Matt was also an avid Royals fan, taking in games with his family, friends, and his girlfriend Marcianna as well as their dog, Milhouse.

Matthew was an unyieldingly independent and pilgrim soul—laid back but full of spirit and love—resistant to the trends and fads of the world. He was a friend to everyone he met and will be sorely missed by a bevy of fans, friends, and family he’s moved on from. Matthew was preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, Robert Dean and Harriett Jean Gall, and William Thomas Buckley, all of Independence. He is survived by his grandmother, Anna Lorraine Buckley; his parents; his brother Adam and Adam’s son, Shaye; his brother Zac, Zac’s wife Beth, and their children Mary and Adeline; and sister Katie and her husband Peter Hystead and their children, Winston and August.

A visitation will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Noland Road Baptist Church on Friday, June 17, with a service to follow at 4:00. Afterward, friends are invited to join the family at Diamond Bowl, where Matt worked, for a celebration of his life.

Anyone wishing to express their condolences to the family may do so through their contributions to a music scholarship that will be established in Matthew’s name. Please make checks payable to the ISD Foundation (memo: Matthew Gall Scholarship). Contributions will benefit students studying music at MAI.