Matthew Thomas grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast in America. He studied primarily in New York at the Eastman and Juilliard Schools before receiving a scholarship to take timpani lessons at the University of the Arts in Berlin.
He was an apprentice with the Brandenburger Symphoniker for two seasons before working with the Thüringen Philharmonie for one year as Principal Timpanist. He then served as Section Principal Timpanist with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra for eight seasons in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Matthew joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as a full time member in March 2024.
