Matthew Howard is the multi-Grammy-winning, Principal Percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; the same orchestra he grew up watching as a Los Angeles native. Before joining the LA Phil, he was a resident of Miami, FL where he was a Percussion Fellow with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He has performed with such groups as the San Francisco Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, and Boston Ballet. He also has been a member in the National Repertory Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestra, and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra.
Matt attended the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music earning a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance. For his Master in Percussion Performance, he studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Immediately after graduating in 2015, he was offered the fellowship with the New World Symphony. After one year in Miami, he won his dream job with his hometown orchestra, Principal Percussion with the LA Philharmonic.
Matt also runs the Matt Howard Percussion Academy, where he maintains a teaching studio of professional percussion students. Additionally, he regularly teaches private lessons and master classes at top music colleges and conservatories around the world, and can be heard in movie and tv show scores!