Matt Vernon Email & Phone Number

Specialties: Samba Batucada percussion tutor, drum builder, wood sculptor, arts facilitator.Matt has been involved with the Beat for over 8 years as a volunteer, facilitator and carnival artist. Matt’s primary artform is percussion and has a lead role in musical direction, tuition and management of Beats main street percussion programs, regularly teaching to around 50 individuals on a weekly basis. He has also developed strong skills and competences in float and prop construction. Originally a landscape gardener with an interest in chainsaw carving, he has developed his woodwork skills to designing and making his own drums. Over the years Matt has taken all opportunities for training with the Beat and has consequently worked with some of the most respected percussionists and carnival organisations from across Europe and further afield. These have included Sam Alexander, Maracatu Estrella do Norte (London), Mestre Chacon Vianna, Maracatu Nacao Porto Rico (Brazil) and Monobloco (Brazil), Les Grandes Personnes (France). He has also been a key artist/musician in 2 European exchange and performance projects. He has performed at many carnival and festival events throughout Ireland and in several European countries as well as studying and performing Maracatu percussion and dance in Olinda Brazil. He has also been a guest percussion tutor at the City of Belfast School of Music and provided percussion workshops for the Southern Education Library Board.

Listed skills include D.J, Stilt Walker, Drum Builder, Puppet Builder And Performer, and 19 others.