Matthew Coley

We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Coley as the High School Solo Category Audio Round Judge for the 2026 Great Plains International Marimba Competition!

Matthew Coley is an internationally acclaimed percussion performer and the founder and executive/co-artistic director of Heartland Marimba (HM).

Primarily performing on marimba, hammered dulcimer, and cimbalom, Matthew travels regularly as a soloist and collaborator, bringing the beauty of the marimba's singing wood and the diverse soundscape of other percussion and dulcimers to many audiences. He has performed in most of the US states.

As a soloist, Matthew has performed with organizations throughout the US and abroad including the Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, HBO/Giant Spoon’s Game of Thrones Experience at South by Southwest, American Ballet Theatre, University of Edmonton-Alberta Wind Ensemble, Sudar Percussion of Croatia, San Francisco Sinfonietta, Kurpfalzisches Kammerorchester Mannheim, and the Moldavian Philharmonic and Teleradio Symphony Orchestras. He is the “multi-dulcimerist” with The Way Out, a mixed quintet performing the cross-over fusion music of Bjorn Berkhout, and the Ataraxia Duo with harpist Jennifer Ruggieri. Matthew was the first executive director and curator at the Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, in 2023-2024.

Matthew’s work with Heartland Marimba (including the HM Quartet, Ensemble, Festivals, and Publications) has brought the marimba art form in front of audiences in more than 50 cities with 250 concerts for audiences of all kinds, including thousands of children. Additionally, HM's continual work with virtual content during 2020-2021 has led them to release 19 different remotely recorded videos of chamber works. Matthew has several critically acclaimed albums available. Between the Lines (2015) was released on the New Focus Recordings label, and Circularity (2010), Souvenirs (2012), Heartland Marimba Dances (2016), and Vision (2019 – HMQ’s album) are available through HMPublications and for download and streaming everywhere.

He has performed as a soloist at five Percussive Arts Society International Conventions and in numerous universities, institutions, and concert halls across the nation. Matthew has won several prizes from national and international competitions and holds percussion performance degrees from Northwestern University (DM and MM) and the University of North Texas (BM).

He is a signature artist with Salyers Percussion, where you can find his marimba mallet line of seven models, and a concert artist with Marimba One.

Please visit www.hearMatthewColey.com and www.HeartlandMarimba.com.

Salyers Percussion Marimba One Heartland Marimba