Matthew Bell is a Percussionist known for his versatility and high degree of finesse across a broad range of rudimental and folk traditions. Matt holds a Bachelors of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from DePaul University, where his primary teachers were Ted Atkatz and Michael Green. Matt began his Celtic percussion career in 1993 as a member of the City of Washington Pipe Band under the direction of Jonathan Quigg. After several top-five finishes from 1996 to 1998, the band won the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in August of 1999. The City of Washington Pipe Band’s Drum Corps were also World Champions that day. The Band was immediately upgraded to Grade 1. Presently, The City of Washington is one of only four Grade 1 bands in the United States.In 2006, Matt was admitted to the Adjudicator’s Panel of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. He is a frequent drumming judge at pipe band contests throughout the United States.Matt has performed and/or recorded on the bodhrán with with a host of Celtic musicians including Bonnie Rideout, Jerry O’Sullivan, William Jackson, John Doyle, Cathie Ryan, Liz Carroll, Joanie Madden, Mick Maloney, Brendan Dolan, and Billy McComiskey. He is featured on Billy McComiskey’s Grammy- nominated album, Outside the Box, on Compass Records. His new book, The Contemporary Bodhrán, is now available on his website.
Since 2002, Matt has served as a snare drum instrumentalist with the United States Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. He has performed hundreds of shows with the Corps over the last ten years, including the inaugurations of Presidents Bush and Obama. Matt has also enjoyed serving as a clinician at Shenandoah University, the Ohio University, the Ohio State University, Marshall University, and the University of Kentucky. Matt also performed as part of the Old Guard Drumline at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2007 and 2010.
Please visit Matt’s Website at www.matthewbellmusic.com for audio and video clips and a more detailed bio.
Matt proudly endorses Loyal Drums, OffWorld Percussion Products, Vic Firth Drumsticks and Mallets, and Remo Drumheads and World Percussion Instruments.
For more info on the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, please visit www.fifeanddrum.army.mil (link may be broken)
