Dr. Matthew Geiger, Professor of Percussion at East Tennessee State University. Utilizing an eclectic musical approach, Dr. Geiger continues to champion both new and canonic works through performance, teaching, and research. His experience includes both the study and performance of orchestral percussion, solo and chamber repertoire, timpani, drum set, and world music. In the fall of 2018, Matthew will begin his position of Assistant Professor of Percussion at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Prior to ETSU, Matthew taught at Morehead State University in Kentucky, serving as Visiting Assistant Professor of Jazz and Percussion, coordinating the jazz and commercial music percussion programs, assisting in the direction of the marching percussion section, and working individually with all percussion and drum set majors. His recent performances have focused on solo vibraphone, both in the jazz idiom as well as contemporary twentieth-century repertoire. Along with International solo performances in Sweden and China, he was named the winner of the 2013 International Solo Vibraphone Competition by the Percussive Arts Society. Matthew embraces a comprehensive approach to percussion through collaborations, including performance tours with the BlueSHIFT Percussion Quartet and regular performances with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and Cave Run Symphony Orchestra. A former performing member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, he also served as an instructor for the DCI World Class Finalist corps, The Academy. Summer Festival study has included the June in Buffalo Performance Institute, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, and the Nief-Norf Summer Festival. Matthew has premiered pieces by noted composers: Christopher Adler, Juri Seo, Glenn Kotche, Brian Nozny, Roger Zare, and Ben Wahlund. He has recorded for the Naxos and Mark Records label, including performing as percussionist and timpanist on the Grammy nominated recording of Darius Milhaud’s “L’Orestie, d’Eschyle”.
An active member in the Percussive Arts Society, Matthew regularly writes articles and reviews for Percussive Notes, including his most recent article “The Rudimental Conguero: A Collision of Traditions”. He presented a lecture on recording techniques in San Antonio for the 2015 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Matthew also serves on the World Percussion Committee dedicated to bringing more diverse musical experiences to students and professionals. In 2011 and 2014, Matthew was asked to perform and conduct with the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble at the PASIC showcase concert.
In the Spring of 2017, Matthew completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Kentucky. He received his Master’s degree in percussion performance at the University of Michigan in 2014. Before coming to Michigan, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Kentucky. His principal teachers have included James B. Campbell, Joseph Gramley, Jonathan Ovalle, Michael Gould, Paul Berns, and Chad Kohler. Matthew Geiger is a Yamaha Performing Artist and educational artist for Innovative Percussion and Black Swamp Percussion. For more information, visit www.geigerpercussion.com