Matthew Kibort is the Principal Timpanist of The Glimmerglass Festival Orchestra. He was previously the Timpani Fellow at the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas for four seasons where he was praised for his “controlled mastery of the timpani" (South Florida Classical Review). Mr. Kibort has performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Milwuakee Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra and Grand Rapids Symphony. During the summers, he has been the timpani fellow with the National Repertory Orchestra and a percussion fellow at the Texas Music Festival.

As an passionate educator, Mr. Kibort has taught at the Chicago New Music School, People’s Music School, Merit School of Music, Miami Beach Senior High School, and was an ensemble instructor at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Illinois.

Mr. Kibort has received his bachelor of music degree from Roosevelt University, where he studied with Vadim Karpinos and Edward Harrison. He has also studied at DePaul University with David Herbert and Eric Millstein.