Matthew Strauss is an Associate Professor of Percussion at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where he has developed a highly competitive studio. His methodical yet passionate teaching style has guided many of his current and former students towards successful careers as both orchestral percussionists and timpanists. Additionally, he is a Cofounder and Resident Teaching Artist at the International Timpani Intensive held at Rice University. As the Associate Principal Timpanist / Section Percussionist with the Houston Symphony and the Principal Timpanist with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, he has a clear understanding of the joys and challenges of creating world class music on a consistent basis. Mr. Strauss received his bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the Juilliard School and his master’s degree in Performance from the Temple University. Mr. Strauss is a performing artist and clinician for Promark, Evans Heads, Zildjian Inc., and Pearl/Adams.

Leonardo R. Soto, Jr. is the Principal Timpanist of the Houston Symphony since 2018, prior to that he held the same position at the Charlotte Symphony and the Michigan Opera Theatre-Detroit Opera House, he is also Timpanist at the Grand Tetons Music Festival and was an active member of Miami’s Nu-Deco ensemble. Leo has performed with orchestras such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Seoul Philharmonic, Orquesta Filarmonica de Santiago. As an educator Leo is a co-founder faculty at the International Timpani Intensive “ITI”, he is faculty member at Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and the Brevard Music Festival, and has dictated masterclasses at Universities such as Northwestern, DePaul, Rice, Denver, UGA, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Seoul and Carnegie Hall’s NYO. His education includes University of Chile and Carnegie Mellon. Leo is a proud endorser of Luft Mallets, Adams percussion, Remo drumheads and Pearl Drums.