Matthew Bimstein currently serves as the Band Director at Clinton High School. He holds a Master of Music in Percussion Performance & Literature from The University of Tennessee, where he also served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the percussion studio. Matthew earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Tennessee Tech University. His primary teachers include Dr. Andrew Bliss, Dr. Eric Willie, and Dr. Colin Hill.
While at Tennessee Tech University, Matthew performed with numerous ensembles including the Golden Eagle Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphony Band, Chorale, Concert Choir, University Orchestra, Bryan Symphony Orchestra, and the TTU Percussion Ensemble. As a member of the TTU Percussion Ensemble, he was invited to perform showcase concerts at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (2012), the National Association for Music Education National In-Service Conference (2013), and the Tennessee Day of Percussion Collegiate Ensemble (2014).
Matthew served as principal timpanist for the University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra from 2015–2017. With the UT Percussion Ensemble, he performed as a soloist on Michael Burritt’s Blue Flame Quintet at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2015 and appeared at the 2016 McCormick Marimba Festival in Tampa, Florida.
As a soloist, Matthew won the Tennessee Day of Percussion Solo Competition in both 2014 and 2017. In recognition of his achievements, he received the Charles F. Bryan Award in 2013, the highest honor awarded to a music major at Tennessee Tech University, voted on by the faculty. In 2015, he was also named the recipient of the TTU College of Education Undergraduate Student Leadership Award.
As an educator, Matthew has taught AP Music Theory, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and History of Rock. His students have earned scores of 3, 4, and 5 on the AP Music Theory exam and have successfully auditioned for regional and national honor bands. Under his direction, ensembles have received multiple superior ratings at marching band and concert festival events. In 2023, he was named Clinton High School’s Teacher of the Year. Matthew also is proud to be an Innovative Percussion Educational Artist.
Matthew is happily married to his wife Cara and they have 4 boys!