Utilizing an eclectic musical approach, award-winning percussionist Dr. Matthew Geiger continues to champion both new and canonic percussive works through teaching, performance, and research. His experience includes both the study and performance of orchestral percussion, solo and chamber repertoire, timpani, drum set, and world music. Currently, Matthew is an Assistant Professor of Music and the Director of Percussion at the University of Kentucky.
Matthew embraces a comprehensive approach to percussion through larger collaborations and emphasis in chamber percussion performances. Matthew is a founding member of both the BlueSHIFT Percussion Quartet as well as Aleph Percussion Group, and recently held the principal percussion positions with both the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and Symphony of the Mountains. 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 The Academy. Matthew has premiered pieces by many distinguished composers, including Christopher Adler, Juri Seo, Anders Åstrand, 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".
His recent solo performances have focused on vibraphone, both in improvisation as well as contemporary twentieth-century 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, North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
An active member in the Percussive Arts Society, Matthew serves in many capacities for the organization. He served as the president of the Tennessee chapter, as well as Vice-President of both the Tennessee and Kentucky chapters prior to that. He has also presented numerous clinics and fundamental sessions for Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC). Matthew also serves on the Percussion Ensemble committee, having served two terms on the World Percussion Committee. Along with multiple chamber performances at PASIC, Matthew was asked in 2011 and 2014 to perform and conduct with the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble under the direction of James Campbell at the PASIC International Percussion Ensemble Competition Showcase Concert.
Prior to the University of Kentucky, Matthew was coordinator of percussion at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. 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 in 2023. Before ETSU, Matthew taught at Morehead State University in Kentucky, serving as Visiting Assistant Professor of Jazz and Percussion.
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. His principal teachers include 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 Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, and Black Swamp Percussion.
