Matthew Darling has taught and headed the percussion area at Fresno State since 1991, and is currently the Acting Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. He has appeared as a soloist, performer, adjudicator, clinician, conductor, and/or presenter throughout the United States at festivals, universities, and state and international music conventions, including the Percussive Arts Society (PASIC), California Music Educators Association, and California Band Directors Association.
An avid supporter of new music, Dr. Darling has premiered as a performer/conductor dozens of solo and chamber works featuring percussion. Works include Dr. Benjamin Boone’s A Prayer for solo marimba and Chasing Tweetie for percussion septet; Neurotica for flute and three percussion by Dr. Kenneth Froelich; Accidental Migration for solo marimba and percussion ensemble, also by Dr. Froelich, which was commissioned by the Fresno State Percussion Ensemble and won first place in the PAS composition competition, medium ensemble; A Little D ‘n’ A for percussion ensemble by Gary P. Gilroy; Nyumbani, a commissioned three movement work for solo marimba by Mark Vance; and A Prayer for solo marimba by Benjamin Boone.
Darling performs regularly with the Fresno Philharmonic, is principal timpanist/percussionist with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, and principal timpanist with the Sacramento Choral Society. He appears as an adjudicator, clinician, and performer throughout the U.S. and holds degrees from the University of Arizona, Northwestern University, and Sacramento State. Dr. Darling served as the President of the California Chapter of PAS from 2009 through July, 2025. He is proud to be an educational artist for Yamaha, Grover Percussion, Innovative Percussion, and Sabian Cymbals.