Matt Richards
Matt Richards is currently the principal percussionist of the Missouri Symphony and a percussionist with the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale. He has also performed with the Houston Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, New World Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Abilene Philharmonic, Big Spring Symphony, San Juan Symphony, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, and the Downey Symphony.
Matt completed a graduate certificate in percussion performance at the USC Thornton School of Music, studying under Jim Babor and Joe Pereira of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition, he holds a Master’s degree from California State University, Northridge and a Bachelor’s from the University of California Santa Barbara.
Matt was also an instrumental fellow of the National Orchestral Institute, Orchestra of the Americas, and Marrowstone music festival. You can hear Matt on the Naxos recording “American Classics” released in 2016.
Matt has over ten years of teaching experience, ranging from middle school through college, with 4 years of experience in Texas Schools. He has had countless students make region bands, and much success in the All-state competition. His teaching style is known for its energetic and fun approach.
“Matt Richards is more than just an expert in percussion and online teaching; he motivates and inspires everyone around him! Every music educator in the country needs him on their team”
“Matt has been working with my son Jacob for 3.5 years now, and the last year of instruction has been solely by internet via Skype lessons. All you need is a desire to learn, devotion to practice, and a pair of drum sticks and Matt will do the rest. He has been a blessing to Jacob and his musicality. He works well with parents and is willing to modify his schedule to accommodate ours.
I believe that through Matt’s teaching, encouragement, and support, Jacob has been able to achieve placements in All-City, All-Region, and All-Area bands for the last 3 years. This year, Matt pushed Jake to 1st alternate in the All-State band as a 10th grader, and Jacob received a 1 on his solo, earning him a trip to state.
Matt makes learning fun while demanding a respect for each instrument in the percussion family. I would recommend Matt Richards to anyone of any age or in any stage of the journey with percussion.”
Brady Spitz
Dr. Brady Spitz is Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Houston Baptist University, Houston Community College, and is a freelance percussionist in the Houston area. He has played principal timpani with the Amarillo Symphony and Acadiana Symphonies, as well as section percussion with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. He also has extensive experience with contemporary percussion and chamber music in a diverse group of performance situations, working with contemporary groups like Houston’s Loop38 Ensemble to accompanying Broadway star Idina Menzel. He has given performances and clinics regionally, as well as performing at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Conventions in 2005, 2008, and as a featured soloist with Hamiruge’s 2009 appearance. His current area of research is Lou Harrison’s American Gamelan repertoire and American Gamelan movement.
Dr. Spitz is a Doctoral graduate of Rice University. He also holds a Bachelor of Music Performance in Percussion, magna cum laude, from the University of North Texas College of Music and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Louisiana State University. His teachers include Matthew Strauss, Richard Brown, Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Brett William Dietz, Ed Soph, Paul Rennick, Jim Atwood, Jose Aponte, Poovalur Sriji, and Ed Smith.
Previously, he was the front ensemble director and co-designer for the Northshore High School Indoor Percussion Program, a Scholastic World group that won four consecutive Texas State Championships, multiple WGI Regional Championships, and was a World Class Finalist at the 2014 WGI World Championships. He is also an accomplished private instructor and clinician. His full-time studio of students place highly in all of the state-wide solo competitions, receive consistent Superior Division UIL ratings in both solo and ensemble playing, and audition into some of the top colleges in the nation. As a clinician, Dr. Spitz has worked extensively with universities and public schools across the region.
Dr. Spitz is an endorser of Innovative Percussion.
“Brady is a brilliant percussion pedagogue. He has a great rapport with his students. Every student he interacts with progresses. I am very fortunate to have Brady not only teaching my students, but teaching me!”