Biography

Photo by Clayton Garner

Mathew “Mat” Aaron Campbell (b. 1992) originally hails from the La Hermosa barrio in San Benito, a small town in the Rio Grande Valley in Deep South Texas. After learning to make the most of his limited resources, he has turned to using his unique, speech-impeded voice to build a career of collaborative opportunities between the Rio Grande Valley and the rest of the world.

He earned his Bachelor of Music in Education from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he studied with multiple teachers, including percussion and composition with Dr. Joe W. Moore III. After teaching as a percussion director in Texas, Campbell attended Oklahoma City University and graduated with High Honors and induction into the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Pi Kappa Lambda Society. He earned a Master of Music in Music Composition and Conducting in two years under Dr. Edward Knight and Dr. Matthew Mailman, respectively.

As a regularly commissioned composer, guest conductor, and adjudicator, Mat has collaborated with various educators and musicians throughout the United States. He has conducted his works at The National Flute Convention, ClarinetFest, and the Texas Music Educators Conference. His music has been programmed by conductors and ensembles in the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Asia, and at events such as the National Conference of Percussion Pedagogy, New Music on the Bayou, the Inaugural Central Washington University New Music Festival, and various instrumental conferences such as The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. His music has been reviewed in publications such as Percussive Arts Society’s Percussive Notes and International Clarinet Association’s The Clarinet and included on the Bandworld Top 100 List. His music is available through C. Alan Publications and his website store.

His piece Into the Void: A Study in Disembodied Consciousness received first prize in the SATB Chorus and Percussion (3-5 Players) Category of the 2015 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest. In his dedication to providing other composers this opportunity, he currently serves as a member of the PAS Composition Committee.

While forming an ever-evolving freelance career as a creative, Mat uses his proficiency in notation and music production software to elevate his solo ambitions or projects with others in various capacities to the next level. Over time, this list has grown to include the roles of arranger, sound designer, engraver, and collaborator across stage, studio, field, and genre.

Mat is currently a Music Engraving and Audio/Video Specialist at C. Alan Publications and a former Adjunct Professor of Music Production at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Short Biography for Programs →

 

Mission

 

My work ethic encompasses my skill sets across multiple disciplines. It consists of establishing appropriate time tables, striving for excellence, and revitalizing the reputation of percussionists, composers, and conductors in the field.

I have been working hard over the last ten years to enhance my craft to make the most of collaborations between composer, conductor, and performer. With this work ethic comes an equally-matched business ethic. I strive to make the life of my client worry-free throughout the entire process of commission, design, and rehearsal to performance, publishing, and beyond.

Whether you want to collaborate for a middle school concert, a marching band show, or a world premiere at Carnegie Hall, I will be sure to compose or arrange with the focus on the student’s technical abilities and artistic vision. Whatever you have in mind, I will be ready to collaborate in whatever capacity with the intent to deliver exactly what you need.

Let’s bring your passion project to life.

 

Services Offered

 
  • Composing

    iPad with handwritten sketches
  • Arranging / Sound Design

    Marching Band Field
  • Commercial / Media Music

    Mat sitting at a desk looking at his computer monitors
  • Guest Conducting

    Mat conducting a percussion ensemble

Educator

Philosophy

Mathew’s philosophy on education builds upon the life lessons and experience he has learned from his teachers and professors. His philosophy is that:

“If the teacher only shows the students facts without justification, the student will only know facts.

If the teacher shows the student how to learn through justification and association, the student will be able to use these tools in their lifelong pursuit of knowledge.”


Classroom Experience

Mathew completed the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Office of Educator Preparation Accountability program in Fall 2016 under the mentoring of Mr. Guy McKinney (Secondary) and Mr. Roel Flores (Primary) at Mercedes ISD in Mercedes, Texas.

Mathew consulted with Weslaco ISD (Weslaco High School Cluster) in Spring 2017 under the leadership of Mr. Rodrigo Leal, Mr. Ernie Ortiz, and Mr. Art Hinojosa.

Mathew is certified by the Texas Education Agency to teach music in all levels (EC-12). He has been a member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) since 2013.

Mathew is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music Production at The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he teaches Introduction to Logic Pro to undergraduate students.

Photo by Joey Juarez

 

ADVICE FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS:

“Write what you know. Write what makes you comfortable. You need to build a shell before you can break out of it. I’m not saying be conservative because your shell might be big and brash, but just be comfortable and happy with whatever you write.

Most importantly, always have something to say.”

— Mat Campbell

Conductor

Photo by Joey Juarez

Conducting YouTube Playlist

Beginnings

Mathew had his debut as a composer and conductor with the premiere of his take on Simple Gifts with the UTRGV Brownsville String Orchestra in October 2011. He is extremely grateful for Dr. Martha Placeres's encouragement throughout the years. Their collaboration has spanned several years and three states. Dr. Carol McNabb was instrumental in his first experience in working as a commissioned composer for the UTRGV High School Honors Double Reed Choir. He is lucky to have these two profiles dedicated to the growth and development of his early career.

2012-2016

Mathew has gone on to conduct his works for chamber ensembles, concert band, and orchestra at the The National Flute Convention in 2013, the Texas Music Educator's Conference from 2015-2016, ClarinetFest in 2016. He is extremely thankful for the collaborative opportunities given by Dr. Cristina Ballatori and Dr. Jonathan Guist.

2017-2019

Mathew completed the Master of Music in Conducting degree at Oklahoma City University in May 2019. His graduate advisor was Dr. Matthew Mailman (winds), and he also completed courses taught by Dr. Randi Ellefson (chorus), and Prof. Jeffrey Grogan (orchestra). Mathew is deeply grateful for the professionalism, expertise, and guidance of his teachers.

Present Day

Mathew looks to the future to become a guest conductor for high school and collegiate ensembles to share moments with musicians and audiences alike. If you’re interested in having Mathew as a guest composer, guest conductor, or both for your ensemble, please contact him below.

 

Awards & Recognition

Winner of the UTRGV Brownsville Concerto / Aria Competition - Instrumental Conducting Division – Conducted Rimsky-Korsakov's Dance of the Tumblers with the UTRGV Brownsville Symphony Orchestra in concert in April 2014.

First prize for Into the Void: A Study in Disembodied Consciousness in the SATB Chorus and Percussion (3-5 Players) Category of the 2015 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest.

Awarded “Engaged Scholar” Award at UTRGV in Fall 2016

Awarded the Rick McKee Award in Music Composition at Oklahoma City University (‘17-’18)

Graduated with High Honors from OCU in 2019 while completing two concurrent Master of Music Degrees in two years. (Music Composition, Conducting)

Percussionist

Photo by Clayton Garner

Mat Campbell has played percussion since the age of 8. He started playing drum set, then he started to learn concert percussion in sixth grade. He won many awards through middle school and high school at the regional and state levels.

Campbell has marched in marching band and indoor marching percussion ensembles. He has also performed in concert band, orchestra, and chamber ensembles. He also has performed solos at the regional level at recitals and concerts. He has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention as a member of the Rio Bravo Bass Ensemble in the 2015 Percussive Arts Society Marching Festival.

Campbell was a member of the Rio Bravo Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Joe Moore III during his time at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He performed at the Texas Music Educator’s Conference several times throughout his undergraduate studies. During his graduate studies, he was also a member of the Oklahoma City University Percussion Ensemble. Other notable percussion teachers of Mathew are Dr. Tom Nevill, Mr. David Lopez, Dr. Mark Eichenberger, and Prof. Patrick Womack.

As a member of community ensembles, Mathew has performed with ensembles in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area such as the Frontier Brass Band and the Oklahoma City Symphonic Band. He currently performs with the Austin Symphonic Band in Austin, TX. Notable performances the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention in 2024 in San Antonio, TX.

 

Poetry

I have never considered myself a poet. Hardly even a composer, actually. In fact, my mantra as a composer is that I just get really lucky with the notes that I use.

My newfound love for writing poetry has been a part of me since 2017. It has come from writing program notes, poems for works, and original lyrics. I wouldn't ever proclaim myself to be a poet, because I feel that it is an indirect insult to poets who I hold in high regard: Octavio Paz, e e cummings, Charles Anthony Silvestri, and many others.

Instead, my poetry comes from the moment and headspace I’m in while composing a piece. They are another element to the music. I would never dare to write poetry that didn’t accompany music (or vice-versa), but I only do so to enhance the musical, emotional, and physiological experience of meditating in a constantly evolving sound world.

This page contains the poetry that I didn’t set out to write. It contains some of the most meditative and intimate strings of words I’ve imagined. They are raw and unedited.

They are presented in chronological order. Grab a cup of coffee or tea. Stay a while.