Matthew J. Olson is Director of Choral Activities at Carleton College in Northfield, MN where he leads three choirs, teaches voice lessons, and teaches courses in conducting and a cappella arranging. He also recently worked as Visiting Assistant Professor at St. Olaf College where he taught conducting. Matthew served for many years as Artistic & Managing Director of Bach Roots Festival (formerly Oratory), and Associated Conductor of the The Singers – MN Choral Artists. The Star Tribune called Bach Roots Festival's performances of Bach’s B Minor Mass “masterful,” and of St. John Passion with Minnesota Dance Theatre, they celebrated the “many strands of excellence…that came together in a gripping realization.” In his role with The Singers, Matthew also served as chorusmaster with The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for Handel's Messiah and a production of Bach’s St. John Passion for which the chorus was praised for being “scrupulously prepared” in a performance that was “one of the most satisfying you could ever hope to hear.” (Star Tribune)
As a conductor rooted in traditional repertoire, Matthew also passionately explores the bounds between classical and popular music. He presented the regional premier of Credo by indie-rocker composer Kjartan Sveisson of the band Sigur Ros. He has also shared the stage with songwriter Carrie Newcomer, bluegrass band Monroe Crossing, and was a featured singer, songwriter, and conductor on Minnesota Public Radio’s Work for Words live at the Fitzgerald Theater with Chris Koza, Rogue Valley, Your Smith, and members of the Doomtree hip-hop Collective.
As a choral composer and arranger, his works (published by Colla Voce & Santa Barbara) receive increasing performances throughout the U.S. and abroad.
As a choral singer, Matthew has performed and recorded with ensembles including The St. Olaf Choir, The Carnegie Hall Festival Chorus, The Singers, Dale Warland and the Minnesota Beethoven Festival Chorale, The Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (NYC).
As an arts administrator, he worked formerly for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra first as an intern in Development, and then as a personal assistant to then President, Bruce Coppock. As Artistic & Managing Director of Bach Roots Festival he oversaw all development, marketing, and communications, and experienced the doubling of the organization’s budget three years in a row.
​
He studied choral and orchestral conducting at St. Olaf College (B.A.), The Oregon Bach Festival, Michigan State University (M.M.), The Canford Conducting School (U.K.), and The University of Minnesota (D.M.A.) He is also indebted to many conductors who have supported him in ongoing study, chorus master work, and rehearsal observations including Ton Koopman, Bernard LaBadie, Helmuth Rilling, Paul McCreesh, Craig Hella Johnson, Jonathan Cohen, and Patrick Dupré Quigley. Matthew belongs to Beyond Artists, a coalition of artists that donates a percentage of their concert fees to non-profit organizations they care about. He proudly supports College Possible.
