Our band is a tight knit group of musicians that work and practice together (not a bunch of strangers thrown together for your one very special event). Matt has a knack for attracting and retaining the finest musicians and entertainers into his group. Our musicians are outstanding performance and recording veterans.  You can be confident that your event entertainment will be polished, professional, and fun.

The Modern Times singers and instrumentalists are...

Matt Ferrante: Band Leader: Saxophones, Vocals, Flute, Clarinet  and EWI

Matt has a Masters Degree in Music Education from Duquesne University and teaches music technology at Pittsburgh SciTech Academy in Oakland. Formerly, he was the  head of the Performing Arts Department at The Ellis School in Shadyside. He is a highly sought after saxophonist / composer / arranger and has worked nationally with the: Pat Metheny, Natalie Cole, The Four Tops, Joshua Redman, Mike Stern, Joan Rivers, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Drifters, The Count Basie Band, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Mills Brothers and Dave Leibman, and Dionne Warwick . Other credits include being named one of the "top five horn players" for five consecutive years by the readers of IN PITTSBURGH.  Matt  has also worked with many Pittsburgh based bands including : No Bad Ju Ju, Billy Price, The John Parker Band, Billy Price, Finesse, In the Mood, Sputzy and the Soul Providers, 5 Guys Named Moe, and After Dark.  Matt wrote the music and produced their release, The Persistence of Melody on Corona Music.

 

Leah Boni  - Lead Vocalist

Leah has been the vocalist with  Modern Times since 1997. Blessed with a beautifully pure singing voice, she has performed with several Pittsburgh area groups such as Mercedez, JamNation, Impulse and D’Lux.  Leah was recently a finalist on the WPXI-TV (Channel 11) reality talent show called “Gimme the Mike!”. She studied voice under the direction of Dr. Walter Weaver, Carol Allerd, and our previous vocalist, Maureen Budway. Her vocal studies have included classical (Italian and German), Broadway, jazz, country and contemporary styles.

Leah also works as a jingle artist and has been heard nationally and locally with credits such as VH-1 "Diva’s Live", Nickelodeon’s "Guts!" and "Kid’s Choice Awards", Nick At Nite’s "Take Me To TV Land", Toys R Us, and Wheeling Downs. She is also a vocalist on several album productions including Peanut Butter Jam for Nickelodeon, Home For The Holidays for WWSW-FM Radio (Pittsburgh, PA), and Too Much, Too Soon for Sputz Sparacino. In July 1999, Leah won 1^st place at the Country Showdown 1999 local level competition held at Jamboree in the Hills in Morristown, OH. She also placed third at the Starquest 1999 country music competition held at Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling, WV and sponsored by WWVA and Jamboree USA.

Leah also performs as a wedding soloist as well as at special events around the Pittsburgh area.