Matt Carlson (b. 1991) teaches vocal music in the Bermudian Springs School District (York Springs, PA) and is Artistic Director of the Gettysburg Children's Choir. He has conducted choirs from elementary through college ages, and draws on this experience to compose works that are both musically enriching and accessible to singers of all ability levels. He is published through Santa Barbara, Alfred, and here on his website.
He is a graduate of Gettysburg College (B.S. Music Education) and Michigan State University (M.M. Choral Conducting). His music has been commissioned by the Gettysburg College Choir, Gettysburg Children’s Choir, Messiah University, the Adams County (PA) Junior High Honor Choir, the Frederick County (MD) Elementary Honor Choir, the Tucson Girls Chorus, RISE Chorales (Savannah, GA), and the Lawrence Community Girl Choirs (Appleton, WI). His works have been programmed for All-State Choral Festivals in Georgia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In his current position at the Bermudian Springs School District, Matt teaches secondary choral music and serves as music director for the spring musical. In these dynamic learning environments, musicians uncover their expressive, creative, and musical voices by engaging in music making that informs their humanity and inspires life-long musicianship. Matt has attended choral conducting symposia at Temple University, the University of Michigan, and Westminster Choir College, where he refined his conducting gesture and rehearsal technique. His conducting teachers include Robert Natter, Paul Rardin, Rollo Dilworth, Jerry Blackstone, Gary Graden, James Jordan, Charles Bruffy, Jonathan Reed, and David Rayl. He received his Level 1 certifications in Orff from the Eastman School of Music and Kodály from Westminster Choir College. He combines these experiences to best showcase the musical strengths of his students, constantly arranging and composing for the ensembles with whom he works. In 2017, he received the Outstanding Young Conductor award from the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania. Matt is an active member of professional music organizations, and serves on executive boards as the Adams County MEA Vice President, the PMEA District 7 Choral Audition Recording Chair, and the ACDA-PA Children's & Community Youth Choir Repertoire & Resources Chair. |