Matt Prendergast

Matt Prendergast is the Assistant Principal Percussionist of The Phoenix Symphony and is currently on the percussion faculty for Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University. Formally the Principal Percussionist of the Malaysian Philharmonic from 2009-2021, Matt was based in Kuala Lumpur where he was a sought-after educator and performer throughout Southeast Asia. He began his classical training at the Boston Conservatory with Nancy Zeltsman, Sal Rabbio and Pat Hollenbeck. 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 with Principal Percussionist of the New York Philharmonic, Chris Lamb and former Principal Timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera, Duncan Patton.

Matt has performed with several orchestras around the world including acting as guest Principal Percussionist with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. 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 the Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra by Joseph Schwantner with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Matt lives in Phoenix with his wife, Su Yin Tan, also a percussionist who performs and teaches throughout the Phoenix area. With them is their three-year-old son, Mason, and they are excitedly expecting their second child in February 2027.