Matthew Straw

Matthew Straw brings a rare synthesis of disciplines to the podium, shaped by his background in conducting, voice, keyboards, cello, composition, acting, ballet, and philosophy. Having worked in every corner of the opera house—onstage, in the pit, and behind the scenes—he is known for his deep rapport with singers, directors, and musicians alike, shaping performances with a keen sense of both musical and dramatic storytelling.

As Assistant Conductor of Opéra national du Rhin, Matthew assists the house’s mainstage productions will conduct Les Contes d’Hoffmann in February and March 2025. Recent and upcoming highlights include debuts with Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Opéra de Reims, Utah Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen.

Matthew has assisted leading conductors such as Donald Runnicles, Cristian Macelaru, and Kazushi Ono, working with the Brussels Philharmonic, ORF-Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony, and Salzburg Festival.  From 2023 to 2024 he was Assistant Conductor of the Utah Symphony, collaborating with Music Director Emeritus Thierry Fischer and Creative Partner David Robertson, and conducting 80 concerts.

Matthew holds degrees in conducting, piano, voice and philosophy at the MDW University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, the Eastman School of Music, and the Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music where he studied with Robert Spano, Mark Stringer, Stanislav Ioudenitch, and Neil Varon.  He has participated in masterclasses with Cristian Mǎcelaru, Ludovic Morlot, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Neeme & Paavo Järvi, Michael Tilson-Thomas and Robert Spano at the New World Symphony and Järvi Academy, as well as the Aspen Music Festival and Cabrillo Festival where he held conducting fellowships.

Growing up in a musical family of choral conductors and voice teachers, Matthew fell in love with opera while studying voice with his father and accompanying his students.  He has since worked on 33 productions as conductor, assistant, chorus master, repetiteur, cembalist, pit orchestra musician (piano, celesta, cello), chorus member, principal tenor, and actor in a diverse repertoire ranging from standard German, French and Italian warhorses to new American opera and musical theater, with a special focus on the works of Stephen Sondheim.  He is a three-time winner of the Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award, winner of the 2015 National YoungArts Award and First Prize winner of the 2014 Schmidt Competition.