About this user
Brandon Stephen Matthews is the newly appointed music director of the Metro State Symphony Orchestra as well as coordinator of string studies at Metropolitan State College of Denver. A vibrant and versatile conductor, he is equally comfortable directing ensembles on the concert stage or in the theatre pit.
Matthews obtained a doctor of musical arts degree in orchestral conducting at Arizona State University, studying with Timothy Russell and William Reber. While at ASU, he served as a co-music director of the ASU Sinfonietta and was as an assistant conductor for the ASU Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. He also conducted fully staged operatic performances of Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, Don Pasquale, Luisa Fernanda, as well as the musical Nunsense II. Matthews received a master of music degree in orchestral conducting at Brigham Young University under the direction of Kory Katseanes. There he established a student ensemble, the Beethoven Chamber Orchestra, and he was selected by BYU faculty composer Murray Boren to conduct a faculty chamber ensemble in the world premiere of his work, The Joseph Sonnets. The performance took place at the famous Assembly Hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Matthews also made his opera debut at BYU, conducting Menottis The Old Maid and the Thief as well as P. D. Q. Bachs The Stoned Guest.
Matthews's theatre experience also includes a stint as music director for Center Street Musical Theatre Company in Provo, Utah. While there he conducted shows in a wide array of styles including The Mikado, Les Miserables, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Annie Get Your Gun.
In February 2006, Matthews was selected from a large field of applicants to conduct in a master class with Louis Lane at the College Orchestra Directors Association National Convention in Tallahassee. In addition, he has worked with noted conductors and pedagogues such as Harold Farberman, Sidney Rothstein, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, David Allen Miller, Henry Charles Smith, and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski.
Born is Spokane, Washington, Matthews began his musical studies as a pianist and later started playing viola. His musical training continued during summers spent at the Brevard Music Center and the Marrowstone Summer Festival on the Puget Sound. He received a bachelor of music degree in piano performance at BYU, and continues to perform on both piano and viola. He also maintains active teaching studios in piano, violin and viola, vocal coaching, as well as conducting.
Matthews resides in Denver with his wife, Meghan, and their children, George and Sylvia.
Hometown
Spokane, WA
Country
United States
