Award-winning percussionist Dr. Matthew Geiger continues to champion percussive works through teaching, performance, and research. His experience includes both the study and performance of orchestral percussion, solo and chamber repertoire, drum set, and world music. Matthew is Assistant Professor and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Kentucky. Matthew’s recent solo performances have focused on vibraphone, both in improvisation as well as contemporary repertoire. Along with recent international performances in Ecuador, Spain, Sweden, and China, he has performed at many prestigious conferences around the globe, such as the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, World Saxophone Congress, North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. A former performing member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, he also has served as an instructor for DCI World Class finalists, The Cadets and Academy. Prior to the University of Kentucky, Matthew was coordinator of percussion at East Tennessee State University. There, he directed the percussion ensemble to winning the Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble competition as well as receiving an invitation to perform the New Literature Showcase Concert at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
Matthew received his Doctor of Musical Arts along with dual bachelor’s degrees in music performance and mathematics – along with a Spanish minor – at the University of Kentucky. He received his master’s degree in percussion performance at the University of Michigan.