Biography

Composer, conductor, and educator Matthew Forte is in demand across the United States as a composer of music for orchestra, band, choirs, as well as solo and chamber works; as a music educator and clinician; and as a conductor of orchestras and bands.

In a previous career as an orchestral conductor, Matt was Director of Orchestral Studies both at the University of New Mexico and at the University of Toledo, revitalizing both programs and nearly doubling the size of the University of New Mexico and University of Toledo Symphony Orchestras. Concurrent to his academic posts, Matt was active as professional conductor, working with such organizations as the New Mexico Philharmonic, the Hartford Symphony, Toledo Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Aspen Music Festival and School. Matt maintains an active association with the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he collaborates frequently with the AMFS Department of Education and has periodically served as guest faculty since 2016. 

A frequent educator of young musicians, Matthew has worked closely with the Albuquerque Youth Symphony, serving on that organization's Board of Directors from 2020-2024, as a conductor of the Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Toledo International Youth Orchestra, and at Sitka Fine Arts camp, where he served as guest faculty in the summer of 2021. In the last five years, Matt has likewise conducted educational and honor orchestra events in Connecticut, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, and Ohio, among others. 

Currently, Matthew's primary interest lies in composition; ensembles and organizations that have recently premiered his works include the Hartt School, the University of New Mexico Summer Music Institute, Glass City Singers, Musique 21, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and at Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Grand Valley State University, and Lawrence University, among others.