Matthew Garrett

Matt Garrett is the Assistant Director of Bands at Texas Christian University and Assistant Professor in the TCU School of Music. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Tech University and his Master of Music degree in Conducting from TCU. Prior to coming to TCU, Matt taught in the public school system for 15 years. He spent the last nine years in Mansfield ISD, where most recently he was the Director of Bands at Lake Ridge High School. While in Mansfield his groups received numerous awards on both the state and national level, including the marching band from Lake Ridge HS being named a finalist at the Texas State Marching Band Contest in only their second year of existence. His ensemble responsibilities at TCU include directing the Concert Band and Basketball Band program, assisting with the Horned Frog Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band, in addition to teaching Music Education courses and supervising student teachers.

Mr. Garrett is a very active visual designer for marching bands and winter guards. Marching bands using his designs have advanced to the Texas State Marching Contest several times, including several finals appearances. Winter Guards using his designs have won state titles and earned finalist status at the WGI World Championships on multiple occasions. He has been on the instructional staff for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and for 12 years was the director and designer for the Ars Nova Winter Guard organization. He also enjoys being a clinician and adjudicator all over the state of Texas.

Mr. Garrett is originally from the Dallas area and is a graduate of the Poteet High School band program in Mesquite where he was a student of Scott Coulson. He then attended Texas Tech where he studied music education with Keith Bearden and clarinet with Bob Walzel. After beginning his teaching career he then attended graduate school at TCU where he was a conducting student of Bobby Francis, studied music education with Brian Youngblood and James McNair, and clarinet with Gary Whitman.

Mr. Garrett is married to Leslie Garrett and they reside in Fort Worth, TX, where Matt is a dedicated runner and triathlete.

Award Winning Marching Band Drill Designer, Clinician for High School bands across Texas,

Adjudicator for Marching and Concert Band, World Class Winter Guard Designer

Selected as “Outstanding Educator” in Mansfield ISD multiple times.

TEA Classroom Teacher Certification

Texas Music Educators Association,

Texas Band Masters Association

Texas Music Adjudicators Association