Matt Prendergast

Matt Prendergast, Principal Percussion, is currently a member of the Phoenix Symphony percussion section and on faculty at Arizona State University. Formally the Principal Percussionist of the Malaysian Philharmonic, Matt spent many years in Kuala Lumpur where he was a sought-after educator and performer throughout Southeast Asia. He began his classical training at the Boston Conservatory and in the summers of 2005 and 2006, Matt was accepted as a fellow to the Boston Symphony’s prestigious Tanglewood Music Center.  He then went on to get his Master’s degree in orchestral performance at the Manhattan School of Music.  At the completion of his degree, he immediately became the Principal Percussionist of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, living and performing in Kuala Lumpur for twelve years before moving to Phoenix in 2021. Matt has performed with several orchestras around the world including the New York Philharmonic and acting as guest Principal Percussionist on numerous occasions in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen. He has worked with many renowned conductors including Gustavo Dudamel, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and Andris Nelsons.  In 2015, Matt performed Joseph Schwantner’s Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. This is his third year with Arizona Musicfest.