Matt Cross
Matt Cross is a director of orchestras at Allen High School. Mr. Cross received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in 2007, and his Master of Music Education from Texas Tech University in 2012. He previously taught at Midway Middle School in Midway ISD and J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson ISD. The Allen High School Orchestras have placed in the final round of the TMEA Honor Orchestra competition a total of ten times, and the Allen HS Symphony Orchestra was selected as the TMEA Invited Full Orchestra in 2020. The Allen High School Symphony Orchestra was also invited to perform at the 75th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. His ensembles have consistently received sweepstakes ratings at UIL and Best in Class awards at festivals across the country. Before he started teaching, Mr. Cross served in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the intelligence cell of Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines. He is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and also holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, National Association of Music Education, and Mu Omicron. He is currently serving as President for Mu Omicron and served as the TMEA Region Vice-President for Region XXV from 2018-2022, and was also the 2016-2018 Orchestra Region Chair. He frequently serves as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator across the state. Mr. Cross is actively involved in music education research and has presented his studies at both the TMEA and NAfME conferences. As a double bassist, Mr. Cross has performed with the Temple Symphony, Allen Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, and he currently performs with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra. When he is not teaching, Mr. Cross enjoys traveling the world with his wife Amanda and daughter Allison.