Matt Koperniak

Matt Koperniak is the Performing Arts Coordinator for Fulton County Schools where he supervises the district’s comprehensive music education and music therapy programs. Under his leadership, Fulton County Schools continues to be named a “Best Community for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation, recognizing commitment and access to standards-based and sequential music education for the district’s 87,000 students. He also leads the Senior Music Education Seminar at Georgia State University.

Dr. Koperniak served as Director of Bands at Riverwatch Middle School from 2008 to 2018. During that time, band enrollment grew from 135 students to over 680 students. Under his direction, the Riverwatch Band Program received the National Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award from the National Band Association and the Sudler Silver Cup from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Invited performances include The Midwest Clinic: International Band & Orchestra Conference, Music for All National Concert Festival, National Band Association & College Band Directors National Association Southern Division conferences, GMEA In-Service Conference, Southeastern United States SEUS Clinic at Troy University, University of Alabama, University of Georgia, and “Strike Up the Band” on WABE 90.1 (NPR). Additional teaching experience includes Georgia Southern University, Johns Creek High School, Norcross High School, and Jefferson High School, as well as directing the Classic City Community Band in Athens, GA.

Dr. Koperniak served as President of the Georgia Music Educators Association from 2021-2023, as well as State Band Chair (2017-2019) and State Organizer for Middle School All-State Band (2014-2016). He served on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association (2018-2020) and is a frequent adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. He has been published in the Journal of Music Teacher Education and the Music Educators Journal and previously served as Production Editor for the music education journal TOPICS (Themes, Opinions, Praxes, Innovations, Curriculum, Strategies). Recent conference presentations include The Midwest Clinic, NAfME national music education research conference, CSI Fine Arts Leadership Alliance, Education Law Association, MayDay Group Colloquium, and numerous state music education associations.

Dr. Koperniak earned degrees in music education from Boston University and the University of Georgia. He is a 2017 recipient of the UGA Alumni Association “40 under 40” award. Additional recognitions include Riverwatch Middle School Teacher of the Year (2012), Phi Mu Alpha Province Governor of the Year (2013), and GMEA Music Educator of the Year (2020).