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Matt Nielsen
Matt Nielsen
Contact Info: Matt.Nielsen@isd194.org
Matt started playing percussion in a summer program when he was 10 years old, and he has never stopped. His percussive pursuits took him to Brigham Young University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Music for Media, with a Percussion emphasis. While at University, Matt expanded his musical horizons by participating in marching band, jazz big bands & combos (drum set & percussion), percussion ensemble, steel drum ensemble, Celtic folk ensemble, and the Young Ambassadors, an internationally renowned touring ensemble where he served as drummer, band leader, and arranger for 3 years. Matt and his family moved to Minnesota in 2009, where you may have seen him playing keytar, drums, or singing at Valleyfair, underneath the stage in various Twin Cities orchestra pits, or prowling the sidelines with area high school drumlines. Matt currently serves as the Percussion Instructor at Lakeville North High School.
Derrick Raiter
Derrick Raiter
Contact Info: derrickraiter@gmail.com
Derrick Raiter is a professional musician with over 30 years of experience in percussion performance and education. He has experience playing all styles of music and performs with an energetic style while laying down a consistent, solid groove. He has performed with numerous bands, orchestras, and ensembles in cities across the United States including the St. Cloud Symphonic Orchestra, Rochester Symphony, Minnesota Brass Inc., Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Pandora’s Other Box, Dennis Warner, Branded, Whiskey Plates, Fade 2 Shade, Geoff Elvee, Johnny Clueless, and The Diamonds and has recorded with several local and national artists.
Derrick is also an experienced teacher who can help percussion students and groups in all styles of music from rock and jazz to concert and marching percussion for instruments including drum set, concert snare, mallet instruments, marching snare/tenors, timpani, congas, bongos as well as various percussion ‘toys’. He has given private lessons to hundreds of students of all ages in person and via Skype, with many going on to perform professionally, receive college scholarships in music, get accepted to some of the most prestigious music schools in the nation, play in many different Drum Corps, and play in various small ensembles, GTCYS, the Minnesota Youth Symphonies (two of the leading youth orchestra programs in the U.S.) among others. Group instruction experience includes group lessons, clinics, master classes, percussion ensembles, drumlines, marching bands, bucket drumming groups and band camps at middle schools and high schools across Minnesota.
He is currently studying with Anika Nilles (since 2017), has a Bachelor of Music from St. Cloud University and continues to broaden his knowledge and abilities through various lessons, clinics, and workshops.
Learn more at: www.UrbanPercussion.com
View some of my students at the yearly recital on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS8rQ6ixmkbvr2hhtHUQx5Q
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