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The American choral conductor, music teacher and composer, Matt Carlson, obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the Gettysburg College (2009-2013); and his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University. He currently studies at the University of North Texas, where he conducts the UNT Chorale and serves as the TA for the UNT A Cappella Choir, who performed at the ACDA National Conference in March 2025. At this same conference, his composition The Little Creek was performed by the National Middle School Honor Choir.
Matt Carlson is an engaging and energetic conductor, teacher, composer, and vocalist. As a conductor, he fosters a collaborative environment with singers to create meaningful and thoughtful choral artistry. He draws on his vast experience teaching in public schools, community choirs, and collegiate ensembles to compose works that are both musically enriching and accessible to singers of all ability levels. His music has been commissioned by school, community, and collegiate choirs, programmed for choral festivals across the nation, and is published by Santa Barbara, Walton, and Alfred.
As a public school teacher and musician in south central Pennsylvania for eleven years, Matt Carlson continued the high quality choral music making tradition of the area. He served as a secondary vocal music teacher in the Bermudian Springs School District (York Springs, Pennsylvania). He taught the Concert Choir (SATB non-auditioned), Eagle Singers (auditioned select ensemble), Volare (treble choir), and electives in popular music, world music, and guitar. The Bermudian Springs Choirs were known for memorable performances, including at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and performing as an opening act for the rock band Foreigner in 2022. He also served as the music director for the spring musicals, where he led a team of talented theater artists in the area to create high quality productions year after year.
While at Bermudian Springs, Matt Carlson also taught fourth grade general music and choir for nine years. He adored working with the fourth grade choir, inspiring a new class of choral singers each and every year by recruiting them in music classes. Sharing in their joy of making music in a choir for the first time was a highlight of each school year. Later on, he continued this foundational work by teaching the seventh and eighth grade choir at the middle school. He collaborated with students to create meaningful and thoughtful choral art in concert performances, providing a vehicle for musical expression as student navigate adolescence. In 2017, he received the Outstanding Young Conductor award from the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania for his work with the Bermudian Springs School District music program.
A large portion of Matt Carlson's impact on choral music in Pennsylvania was through his work with Gettysburg Children’s Choir. He served as artistic director of Gettysburg Children's Choir from 2022 to 2024, and was a dedicated contributor to the organization for his entire career. He was an intern with the program as an undergrad, served as interim artistic director for three separate semesters, and as assistant director for their summer choir camp for 12 years. As artistic director, he led the program in performances at two state-wide music conferences. The Chamber Chorale, made up of students in grades 9-12, performed at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Conference in April 2023. Their highly acclaimed performance was described as "a masterclass in programming" by Tina Bennett, a past-president of PMEA. In August 2023, Gettysburg Children's Choir & Chamber Chorale performed as part of the opening concert for the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania's Summer Conference. He is Music Director of Denton Bach
Society since the 2025-2026 season.
In addition to his work as a teacher and conductor, Matt Carlson actively served the larger music community of south central Pennsylvania. He was the vice president of the Adams County Music Educators Association, the PMEA District 7 Choral Audition Recording Chair, and the ACDA-PA Children's & Community Youth Choir Repertoire & Resources Chair. He currently lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. |
