Program Assistant
Mat is a singer/songwriter native to the Phoenix area. His introduction to music came at an early age through piano lessons and playing the trombone in his grade school band. But it was later as a teenager, playing guitar and singing at church, that he discovered a passion for performing. In 2004, he began writing, recording, and performing music under the name Obadiah Parker and soon he gained a large online following after a viral video of one of his performances appeared on several popular TV shows and podcasts. He was even the answer to a question on Jeopardy! (“Who is Obadiah Parker?”)
In his life, music has been a powerful force that has brought healing, self-expression, and opportunities to experience the world. It has made him a believer in the importance of music education and its unique ability to open doors for kids from all backgrounds. He is honored to serve the mission of SOUNDS Academy by providing support to the staff, volunteers, and teaching artists.
In his free time, he loves spending time with his son, riding bikes and playing video games. He hopes to someday visit the Mushroom Kingdom on the Millennium Falcon with Steve Nash.
