About the Director

So Excited to be a Knight!

In-demand music clinician and adjudicator, Nathan James Matherne is the band director at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Formerly, he was the director of bands at Cibola High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he served from 2009 to 2020.  Prior to his appointment at Del Norte High School, Mr. Matherne held a director position at both Cibola High School (Abq, NM) for 11 years and Goddard High School in Roswell, New Mexico, for 3 years.  During his tenure at Cibola High School he has also taught a variety of classes including Orchestra, Jazz Band, Color Guard, Percussion Ensemble, and his newly formed Caribbean Steel Pan Band.  

Mr. Matherne hails from the St. Louis, Missouri area originally.  After completion of his Music Education degree in Springfield, Missouri, he moved to sunny New Mexico where he has no plans to leave any time soon! While in Roswell, New Mexico, Mr. Matherne completed his Master’s Degree in Music through Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

In addition to his Euphonium and Piano studies throughout High School and College, Mr. Matherne has performed with the world-renowned Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and Phantom Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.  He was a member in 1999 – 2003 and acted as the Color Guard captain in the Madison Scouts in 2002 and 2003.

Mr. Matherne’s bands have received national acclaim through their performances at festivals throughout the United States, including San Diego, Seattle, and Dallas.

Mr. Matherne is an avid music advocate.  He constantly serves on committees and boards to promote and instill a deep love of the arts into the students, parents, and community he works with.  His most recent accomplishment is the implementation of new music education policy in The Albuquerque Public Schools to help music students achieve graduation requirements.