Little Elm High School Percussion Ensemble

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

One of North Texas' steadily-growing school districts, Little Elm ISD is nestled neatly along 62 miles of shoreline on Lake Lewisville. The District encompasses 40 square miles in the southeast corner of Denton County and serves students who reside in the communities of Little Elm, Frisco, Hackberry, Lakewood Village, Oak Point, and The Colony. Little Elm ISD currently enrolls approximately 8,200 students in six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. In 2025, the district will open its seventh elementary. While it still enthusiastically maintains that “small town” feel, Little Elm ISD embraces innovative programs, technology, and a rigorous curriculum that set it apart from larger communities and districts in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Little Elm ISD believes that a quality Fine Arts education is essential to a well-rounded education for every child. Students that participate in the Arts are able to explore their passions and develop the creativity that is vital to every student's growth. Fine Arts teachers in Little Elm ISD are committed to the district's vision to Engage, Equip, and Empower each student to realize their full potential. The Little Elm ISD percussion program consists of 85+ musicians across three campuses. Little Elm High School and feeder schools, Strike Middle School and Walker Middle School. Little Elm High School percussion students participate in the Lobo Marching Band, one of three concert bands, jazz band and the percussion ensemble. The marching band has consistently earned superior ratings at UIL competitions and top 3 finishes at invitational marching band competitions in the DFW area. The wind ensemble has had consistent superior ratings at the UIL concert and sightreading contest each year. The percussion program has an annual district wide percussion ensemble concert involving all 6th-12th grade percussionists, additionally, the high school ensemble performs at regional festivals. Recent accolades of the Little Elm percussion program include having top 3 finishes in the large and small division of the 2025 North Texas Percussion Festival. The percussion ensemble was selected as a 2024 Commended Winner of the Mark of Excellence National Percussion Honors Contest and has also been invited to perform at the 2025 Midwest Clinic. The Little Elm Marching Percussion placed 1st in their division at the 2023 Lone Star Classic Drumline Contest, as well as earning the best percussion award at the 2024 Plano East Marching Invitational.

Little Elm High School Percussion Ensemble

Conductor's Bio

Matt Neal has been a percussion director since 2005, he began teaching for Little Elm ISD in 2017. Mr Neal's campuses include Little Elm High School and its two feeders, Strike and Walker Middle School. Previously, he taught in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Rockwall ISD, and North Lamar ISD. Mr Neal's ensembles have received recognition for many performances, including top 3 finishes at marching percussion competitions, best percussion awards at marching band contests and top 3 finishes at percussion ensemble festivals. Mr Neal has a Bachelor of Music Degree in performance from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma, and a Master of Music degree in performance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and The Texas BandMasters Association. Mr Neal believes that holding each student to the highest standard to help them reach their utmost potential while fostering a positive nurturing relationship is essential to program development. Mr Neal resides in Little Elm, Texas with his wife Angela, an Orff specialist and the elementary music teacher at Prestwick Elementary in Little Elm ISD.