A Dublin saxophonist is to perform at one of the world's most prestigious festivals next month in what he has decribed as an "unbelievable" opportunity.

Saxophonist Matthew Halpin will join international stars such as Herbie Hancock, Kenny Garrett, Maria Schneider and Jamie Cullum at the Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island, hailed by the New York Times as "the festival that put jazz festivals on the map".

Halpin, originally from Rathgar, says he is in shock ahead of his performance in front of thousands of fans. "I am still in disbelief about it all, to be honest. I have had some daunting experiences before, but this is definitely going to be one of the highlights to the point that I won't know what to do with myself afterwards."

The musician has been performing since he was nine years old and gained admission to the prestigious Berklee College in America, where he was one of only two recipients of a full presidential scholarship in 2009. He is currently in the process of completing his degree in performance and jazz composition.

"It all grew from there – a quartet was formed in the college and we got to play gigs in places like the Bluenote in New York and in Panama. Now I am performing at one of the biggest festivals in the world. It's unbelievable.

"Unfortunately my parents can't be there this time around; like everyone else they are tied up with their jobs, but they have been back and forth to New York over the last while to see me perform so it is nothing new to them," he says.

Halpin believes that although the performance will be nerve-wracking, he has a new-found confidence after previous high-profile gigs.

"I would not say I am exactly used to it in the sense that I won't be nervous, but I am heading along with a group of talented artists and we have built up a repertoire of songs we are confident playing together. We have played a good few times now and are ready for this."

Nick Balkin of the Berklee College in Boston says the festival is currently a talking point amongst some of the biggest musicians in America. "It is being referred to as the Mecca of Jazz and will draw thousands of people. Matthew has studied with Branford Marsalis, George Garzone, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and he is a rising saxophonist."

Before beginning his studies in America, Halpin also studied classical music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.