Dr. Matthew Halligan is an educator and freelance percussionist in the Northern Virginia/Washington DC area who specializes in orchestral, marching and contemporary percussion. He holds a Doctorate in Percussion Performance (DMA) from George Mason University, a Master of Music from Eastern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Halligan has been an Adjunct Faculty Music Professor at George Mason University since 2013, where he teaches Applied Percussion Lessons, Percussion Methods courses and has served as the Assistant Director of the Percussion Ensemble. He is also an Adjunct Percussion Professor at Northern Virginia Community College.
From 2008-2011, Dr. Halligan was the Director of Marching Percussion and the Percussion Music Arranger for The University of Maryland Marching Band. From 2005-2011, he served as the front ensemble section leader and as a percussion music arranger with "The Commandant's Own" Marine Drum & Bugle Corps. In addition, he was nominated for Marine Musician of the Year at Marine Barracks 8th and I in 2006. Dr. Halligan was the Percussion Caption Head for the Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005 and marched with Eklipse Indoor Drumline (WGI) in 2003 and Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps in 2002.
Dr. Halligan has performed in the Washington DC and Northern Virginia areas with professional orchestras and musical ensembles including The American Festival Pops Orchestra (Principal Percussionist), The Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, the Capital Wind Symphony, the Virginia Grand Military Band, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington, the Music and Arts Orchestra at Providence Presbyterian Church, The National Concert Band of America and as a percussionist for Washington DC's The IN series at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
As a composer and arranger, Dr. Halligan has composed solo percussion music including "Blue Variations" for solo snare drum plus tape and "Amazing Grace" for solo marimba. He has arranged music for "The Commandant's Own" Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, University of Maryland, Thomas More College, University of the Cumberlands Marching Bands, Sonus Brass Theater (an ensemble in DCI SoundSport), The Music and Arts by Providence Orchestra, as well as for many high school bands in Northern Virginia.
