Matt "Doc" Stratton

Matt “Doc” Stratton has been actively involved in the marching arts for 30 years. He began his time in the drum corps activity as a marching member of the Patriots and finished his marching career with the Cadets of Bergen County. He has taught the Patriots, Magic of Orlando, Blue Stars, Glassmen, Bluecoats, and most recently the Cadets. Outside of the marching arts, Dr. Stratton is a Professor of Music and holds the Charlene Hawkins Chair of Instrumental Music at Olivet Nazarene University, where he serves as the Director of Bands in the School of Music. Under his direction, the 150-member Tiger Marching Band has performed as the lead band in the London New Years Day Parade, the Presidential Inaugural Parade and the Rome New Year’s Day Parade. In addition to his duties with the marching and basketball bands, he conducts the wind ensemble, teaches courses in the music education and music theory curriculums, and offers applied tuba and euphonium lessons as his schedule permits.

Doc is a proud artist and clinician for Yamaha and a founding member of the Ultimate Drill Book Educational Team. He maintains an active schedule representing those affiliations as a performer, clinician and adjudicator throughout the U.S. and abroad.

He has been nominated for the Who’s Who Among America’s Teacher at both the Secondary and Univeristy level.

Doc holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a Performer’s Certificate from the State University of New York College at Fredonia, a Master of Music in Tuba Performance and a Doctor of Music in Brass Pedagogy from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Kappa Lamda, the College Band Directors National Association and the International Tuba and Euphonium Association. His primary teachers are Don Burke, Russel Mikkelson, Rudy Emilson, Harvey Phillips and Daniel Perantoni.

When not teaching and traveling, Doc loves spending time with his family. His greatest joy is being a father to his children, Connor, Lillian, Camden and Parker. He resides in Bourbonnais, Ill.

“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to help revive the Green Machine and lead this brass program into the future," Doc said. "My aim is to make this CBrass program second to none in our activity through professional brass pedagogy within a system that drives us to compete consistently at the highest level in drum corps. I am honored to join the Cavaliers in this role.”