Assistant Conductor

Matthew Straw

Described as “powerful and elegant” by Neeme Järvi, Matthew Straw enjoys meaningful artistic collaborations on both sides of the Atlantic. As the new Assistant Conductor of the Utah Symphony, Matthew will work with Creative Partner David Robertson and Music Director Emeritus Thierry Fischer, and will conduct the orchestra in over 70 performances during the 2023-24 season.  A two-time winner of the Career Assistance Award from the Solti Foundation US, Matthew became the youngest awardee in the history of the foundation in 2022.  In addition, he received the Helen F. Whitaker Conducting Fellowship at the 2019 Aspen Conducting Academy.

As assistant conductor he has worked with Kazushi Ono and the Brussels Philharmonic, and Ilan Volkov and the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Salzburg Festival. He has conducted the Des Moines Metro Opera, New World Symphony, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and has participated in masterclasses with Stéphane Denève, Cristian Măcelaru, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Neeme and Paavo Järvi, Michael Tilson-Thomas, and Robert Spano. He is a recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he received an MM in conducting and holds degrees in music and philosophy from the Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music. At Eastman, Matthew studied with Neil Varon.