RMM Music LLC

I produce music recording as well as teach privately.

Multi-faceted percussionist, Rolando Morales-Matos is a well sought after Latin,

Jazz and Classical musician. He is a band leader/vibraphonist/composer of Latin

Jazz group “Rolando Morales-Matos & Forward” and “Jazz’ Y Mambo”. He has toured worldwide performing at the major jazz festivals and venues as a percussionist of Ron Carter Foursight Quartet, as well as appearing with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera,

Dave Samuels, Dave Valentine, Willie Colon, among others. Rolando has

recorded with Ron Carter, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Birdland Big Band, as well

as numerous film soundtracks, jingles and classical works. In 2006, Rolando was the

recipient of Drum Magazine's World Beat Percussionist of the Year Award. Since 1997, he has been the Percussionist and Assistant Conductor of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Lion King.

Rolando has developed unique vocabularies of playing melodies on non-pitched percussion instruments. Hispublished works include numerous compositions for classical percussion ensembles and the textbook “Techniques and Basic Patterns for Congas, Timbales, and Bongos”. In 2008, Rolando released his solo album “From The Earth” featuring the Hang Drum as well as his Latin Jazz group’s debut album “Forward”.

Also as an accomplished classical musician, Rolando frequently performs with

The Philadelphia Orchestra. Previously, he was the Principle Percussionist of

Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia in Spain, the Guest Principle Timpanist of New

Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and performed with Puerto Rico Symphony

Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony while he was busy touring worldwide with

many salsa and popular artists from Latin America.

Rolando Morales-Matos is a faculty member at Curtis Institute of Music, Temple

University, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, New Jersey City

University and gives clinics and master classes at many universities, conservatories and Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Percussionist Rolando Morales-Matos

began his musical studies at the prestigious high school for the performing arts,

Escuela Libre de Música and started touring with popular artists at the age of 15.

He moved to the States and received his Bachelor’s degree in Classical

Percussion Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, Master’s degree from

Duquesne University, and Certificate of Professional Studies from Temple

University.

Rolando Morales-Matos endorses Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments,

Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.