Matthew Okumoto is the Director of Bands at Jefferson Charter Academy in Hanford, where he oversees the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Beginning Band, Mariachi, and teaches 4th grade music. Prior to that, he was at Fresno High School, where he oversaw the Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Winter Percussion, Color/Winterguard, and Concert Percussion ensembles, as well as numerous small ensembles. During his time at Fresno High, they received numerous awards and high ratings for marching band, symphonic band, jazz band, with many students participating in local and state honor bands, and the winterguard winning its first ever circuit championship.

Matthew completed his B.A in Music Education from CSU, Fresno in 2009, studying horn with Tom Hiebert, Jennie Bloomster, James Winter, and David Krehbiel. He is currently completing his Master's in Conducting, studying under Dr. Erik Leung, at Fresno Pacific University.

Matthew also works with the Blue Devils “B” Drum and Bugle Corps, primarily working with the hornline. Since joining the staff at Blue Devils “B”, they have won the DCI Open Class Championship in 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2016, and winning the High Brass caption in 2010, 2014, and 2016.

Matthew has done much work for the local and state music educators conferences and was selected to be the percussion manager for the CBDA All-State Concert Band and the CBDA All-State Symphonic band in 2014 and 2015. Matthew also conducted the Fresno Pacific Symphonic Band at the Western International Band Conference in November of 2018, and conducted the west coast premiere of Steven Bryant’s Introit: Tin Riot for brass ensemble with the Pacific Brass Ensemble.

Matt's professional affiliations include NAfME, California Band Directors Assoc., California Alliance for Jazz, California Music Educators Assoc., Fresno/Madera County Music Educators Assoc, Tulare/ Kings County Music Educators Assoc., and Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.