Education

2014 SUNY Potsdam - Crane School of Music, B.M.
2016 University of Michigan, M.M.
2022 University of Minnesota, DMA

Courses Taught

Chamber Singers
Camerata
Aural Skills I-III
Conducting
Music Fundamentals

Career Specialties

Matthew Abernathy specializes in conducting choral-orchestral repertoire, opera and choirs. His academic research focuses on aural skills and musicianship, particularly as it pertains to training conductors.

Professional and Community Activities

American conductor Matthew Abernathy’s refined musicianship, impassioned performances and collaborative leadership are establishing him as a young choral and orchestral conductor of note. He is currently the artistic director of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay - the Principal Chorus of The Florida Orchestra and visiting director of Choral Studies at The University of Tampa.

From 2016–2022, Abernathy was on staff at the Minnesota Opera, most recently serving as interim chorus director for the opera’s professional chorus. In addition, he was the music director of Project Opera (the company’s nationally acclaimed youth opera program) and chorus master for the Minnesota Opera Children’s Chorus. Prior engagements included several seasons as the chorus master for the Lakes Area Music Festival. Abernathy also regularly worked as an assistant conductor and section leader for the Minnesota Chorale, assisting in preparing projects for the Minnesota Orchestra, including their recording of Mahler Symphony No. 8 (BIS Records).

Other notable conducting appearances include the Wintergreen Music Festival, Bach Society of Minnesota, Dakota Valley Symphony Chorus, Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, The Summer Singers, Opera MODO, Arbor Opera Theater, 113 Composer Collective, and the Norfolk Chamber Choir. He has collaborated with conductors including Michael Francis, Michael Christie, Christian Reif, Osmo Vänskä, Jonathan Brandani, Nicholas Kraemer, Kenneth Kiesler, Larry Rachleff, Kathy Saltzman Romey and Christof Perick.

His mentors include Kathy Saltzman Romey, Jerry Blackstone, Duain Wolfe, Matthew Mehaffey, Eugene Rogers, and Kenneth Kiesler. He holds degrees from SUNY Potsdam—Crane School of Music, the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota.

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