Matt Dudack brings a unique perspective to the world of percussion, comfortable performing in a steelband, percussion ensemble, or symphony orchestra.  His varied studies have led him to performances in Europe and NYC with Akros Percussion Collective as well as Trinidad and Tobago as a steelpan performer.  These experiences have helped him to become a better performer and teacher, at all levels of instruction.

 

As a Senior Lecturer at the University of Akron, Matt continues to raise the bar for collegiate percussionists.  As Artistic Director of the acclaimed University of Akron Steel Drum Band, he has earned a Grammy Award nomination for the recording, "Live at EJ Thomas Hall," and has earned two Emmy Award nominations for his contributions to "Hammer on Steel," which was featured on PBS.   For information about the University of Akron Steel Drum Band, visit uasteelband.com.

 

Founds Sounds is a versatile percussion group created by Matt which performs for private bookings as well as countless in-school concerts. Founds Sounds is on the roster of the Children's Concert Society of Summit County as well as the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning.

 

Matt is a founding member of Akros Percussion Collective, a percussion chamber ensemble which pushes the boundaries of new and experimental music.  Akros has erformed at the "Blurred Edges" festival in Hamburg, Germany at So Percussion's "Night of Awesome(ness)" in NYC, and has recently premiered an opera by Christopher Shultis, "Lost in the Woods."  Akros continues to commission new works for percussion and have performed at multiple Percussive Arts Society International Conventions.  

 

His method for steelpan, one of the first of its kind, is published at maumaumusic.com along with his compositions and arrangements for steelband.  He has been a clinician/artist with steelbands of all levels, including the College of Southern Nevada, the Dover High School Steelband (Ohio), the Summit Academy Steelband (Ohio), the Hoban High School Steelband (Ohio), and the Jackson High School Steelband (Ohio).  Recently he has presented at the Ohio Music Educators Assocation conference and the National Association of Steel Band Educators conference, as well as judged at the Virgina Beach Arts Festival PanFest.

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Matt Dudack is currently director of the Miller South Steelband at the Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Akron, Ohio and is a music instructor at Canton Country Day School in Canton, Ohio. Matt is also member of the Akron Symphony Orchestra and holds degrees from the Hartt School (BM Music Education) and the University of Akron (MM Percussion Performance).  His primary teachers are Benjamin Toth, Dr. Larry Snider, and Dr. Rosemary Small.