Matthew Black completed his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University where he studied under Barry Houser and Jamie Ryan. He has had the privilege of teaching ensembles in the Drum Corps International, Bands of America and Winter Guard International circuits such as the Blue Knights, the Phantom Regiment, the Blue Stars, The Cavaliers Indoor Percussion Ensemble, Ben Davis High School and Kennesaw Mountain High School. Matthew served as the percussion director at Perennial Grand National Finalist Marian Catholic High School from 2014-2019. He now serves as the percussion director at 5-time Grand National Champion Carmel High School in Carmel, IN.
In 2015, he directed the Singapore Youth Band of over 500 members for an audience of over 50,000 people celebrating Singapore’s Semicentennial. Matthew is also the director and curriculum developer for the percussion sector of the Smith Walbridge Clinics Summer Camp, the first and oldest marching band camp in the United States. He has presented clinics across the country, speaking on percussion pedagogy and electronic music production for Ableton Live. He is a frequent contributor for Marching Arts Education, speaking on sound reinforcement and amplification. In his time away from teaching, Matthew composes music for marching band shows, commercials and short films.
Matthew is a Yamaha Performing Artist and endorses Evans drumheads, Vic Firth/Balter sticks and mallets and Zildjian cymbals.
