matt
grinke
Matt is a pianist and music director for Disney Cruise Line. He has been playing piano since he was six years old and has formally studied both classical and jazz music. Matt enjoys arranging Disney tunes and directing his 17-piece jazz big band, The Happiest Big Band on Earth. Matt has a history of working in Vancouver’s musical theatre and improv scenes. Matt is currently scoring and music-producing projects for film and TV. On December 5, 2024, Matt released his first studio album, Songs in Walt's Time, to celebrate Walt Disney's 123rd birthday. After opening Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, The Disney Treasure, Matt returned to Vancouver for a Spring season full of shows. Maybe you were able to catch Matt and his quintet playing Pixar tunes at the Vancouver International Film Festival or Matt and his septet celebrating halfway to Halloween with an exclusive villains’ tunes show at Tyrant Studios. Matt will close out his spring concert series by bringing his full 17-piece big band back together on the north shore on May 23rd. Join the Happiest Big Band on Earth while they play an array of Disney and Pixar tunes at Lynn Valley United Church with special guests the accidental Jazz band.
matt’s disney days
matt began his journey with Disney cruise line as a floater pianist on the Disney fantasy in august 2021. since then Matt has sailed the high seas for a total of five contracts on THE wonder, dream, and wish. Matt was honored to be chosen to open the Disney Treasure where he played in the Scat Cat Lounge, Skippers SOciety, Pirates Rockin’ Parlay, and introduced DIsney Tunes Trivia - Live to the Grand Hall. Stay tuned to find out what the next two ships are Matt will be working on later this year.
matt has also had the pleasure of music directing several casts of musicians for the Disney Wish, Dream, and Treasure.
performance history
matt has been performing professionally in the Vancouver area since he was fourteen. his styles include jazz, ragtime, musical theatre, improv, rock and roll, gospel, and classical. he has played piano in such shows as mamma mia, caberet, shrek the musical, legally blonde, hairspray, the rocky horror show, hello, dolly!, and many more!
in 2017, matt traveled to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to play piano for Will Shakespeare’s improv musical where the show received rave reviews.
be sure to check matt’s event page to find out where he will be performing next.
composing/arranging
built out of a university assignment, Matt created a jazz big band, THE HAPPIEST BIG BAND ON EARTH, that would exclusively play his own arrangements of Disney and Pixar songs. they have performed all around the VANCOUVER area and continue to build their repertoire of arrangements.
Matt has composed projects for various events around Vancouver, including the Capilano Suspension Bridge, St. Paul’s Lights of Hope celebration, Burnaby Village Museum, and The Talking Tree Project at Presentation House Theatre.
recently Matt has been composing scores and songs for film and TV. Keep an eye out for Under the Influence and so glad you came to premiere in 2025.
work in progress
In July 2024, Matt successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign for his first album. In August, he recorded the songs for “Songs in Walt’s Time” at Hipposonic Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. The albums have been printed and are currently sold on Disney Cruise Line and are available for streaming wherever you listen.
matt is currently arranging new pieces for the happiest big band on earth’s final spring performance.
matt is creating music for two different projects for film and tv. he is working directly with the creative teams of Under the Influence and so glad you came to score and arrange original songs. both projects are scheduled to premiere in 2025.
