Matthew Howard, Principal Percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Appointed Percussion Faculty at Colburn School

(Friday, December 5, 2025, Los Angeles) –The Colburn School announced today the appointment of Matthew Howard as percussion faculty for the Conservatory. Howard has been serving in an interim capacity since the start of the 2025-26 school year and will now join the faculty permanently.

In conjunction with this announcement, the application deadline for percussion applicants to the Colburn Conservatory has been extended to December 14 and the live audition repertoire has been updated. Live auditions will take place on February 2. Information on prescreening requirements and audition repertoire is available at colburnschool.edu.

Matthew Howard is Principal Percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He is a Los Angeles native who graduated with his Masters in Music at the New England Conservatory, studying with Will Hudgins of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also received his Bachelor of Music at the University of Southern California, studying under Joseph Pereira and Jim Babor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has performed with such groups as the San Francisco Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, New World Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, and Boston Ballet. He also has been a fellow at the National Repertory Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestra, and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra.

During his time in the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he has performed on-stage at the Oscars, played on the soundtrack for West Side Story, performed the “Star-Spangled Banner” for Vin Scully’s last home game at Dodger Stadium under the baton of John Williams, played and collaborated with artists such as Snarky Puppy, Katy Perry, Chris Martin, Herbie Hancock, Alex Acuna, Vinnie Colaiuta, Chic and Nile Rodgers, The Go-Go’s, and Kobe Bryant.

About Colburn School

A performing arts institution located in the heart of Los Angeles, the Colburn School trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. The academic units of the School provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction.

• The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.
• The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This residential program balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.
• The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers over 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.
• The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from aspiring professionals in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.
• Created to serve all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact empowers the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Center embodies Colburn’s commitment to developing young artists with the curiosity, skills, and commitment to make a difference in their field.

Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.

In 2024, the Colburn School broke ground on a transformational campus expansion designed by Frank Gehry. Located across the street from the School’s existing campus at the intersection of Olive and Second Streets, the building will enable the School to expand its mission of presenting programs for the public. Gehry’s design includes a 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall named for Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, five professional-sized dance studios including a 100-seat studio theater, and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown landscape. The expansion will more than double the facilities for the School’s Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, creating one of the most comprehensive dance education complexes in Southern California.

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Jennifer Kallend
jkallend@colburnschool.edu
215-622-6195

Lisa Bellamore
lbellamore@gmail.com
323-500-3071