Matt Olmstead is the director of percussion for Arlington High School, including the drumline, percussion ensemble, steel band and African ensemble. He is a graduate of L. D. Bell, where he studied with Brian Youngblood and Joe Grzybowski. He earned a bachelor of Music Education degree at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he was active in many ensembles, being a featured soloist with the wind ensemble and percussion ensemble, principal timpanist with the orchestra and a marching tech for the UTA marching band.
Mr. Olmstead has previously served as director of percussion for Red Oak ISD and Desoto ISD, and drumline director for Aledo, Azle, and in 1998 and 1999, Arlington High School. He worked with Insignia Percussion (WGI) as quad tech, and with the UTA drumline as they competed at the PAS Championships, coming in second nationally.
Currently, Mr. Olmstead performs with the Dallas Mavericks drumline, the Cutting Edge haunted house, and with the Jessie Frye Band. He lives in Arlington with his collection of antique drums and instruments from around the world.
