THE TEXAS TENORS

MARCH 17-18, 2023, 8:00 P.M.

MATTHEW TROY, CONDUCTOR

PROGRAM TO BE ANNOUNCED FROM THE STAGE

THIS CONCERT IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY:

Matthew Thomas Troy

Matthew Thomas Troy is currently the Music Director of the Western Piedmont Symphony (NC) and is a conductor with a mission to make classical music accessible to everyone and program concerts that are socially meaningful and relevant. He has conducted orchestras across the country including the North Carolina Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Portland Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, Oklahoma Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Gate City Camerata, Northern Lights Chamber Orchestra (AK), University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony, Wake Forest University Symphony, Fibonacci Chamber Orchestra, Salisbury Symphony and others. Maestro Troy previously served as the Associate Conductor with the WinstonSalem Symphony. Troy also held the position of Music Director of the Piedmont Wind Symphony from 2015 – 2019 where he transformed this organization and received many accolades for these successes. From 2010 – 2022 Troy served as Education Conductor of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, where he led the Discovery Family Series, educational concerts, Carnegie Hall’s Link Up concerts, and other outreach efforts. He has also conducted the Oklahoma City Philharmonic on Pops and Classics concerts. Troy has led performances with many internationally renowned pops and classical artists including Jennifer Koh, Ben Folds, Boyz II Men, Pink Martini, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Midori, Judy Collins, Anthony Dean Griffey, Eileen Ivers, The Wailers, Tai Murray, Bryan Wallick, and many others.

Maestro Troy is known for innovative programming and partnerships, deep community involvement, and support for music education. He is recognized for creating an instant rapport with both orchestras and audiences, and for his unique ability to make classical music engaging and relevant to today’s audiences. Troy has pushed boundaries through a number of film and music projects. In April 2018 he crafted a program called Music Without Borders, which focused on the ongoing refugee crisis both locally and abroad. This concert included music and partnerships for many countries affected by these issues, including a partnership with World Relief and local interfaith groups. Troy has commissioned new works, performed countless clinics supporting local music teachers, and created programs and received funding for outreach into local prison systems. The 2017 – 2018 season saw the creation of the Female Fanfare Project with the Piedmont Wind Symphony, which included the important contribution of female composers.

Troy is a passionate advocate for orchestral music and music education. As a viola/violin faculty member at the Music Academy of North Carolina, he received awards for excellence in teaching. Troy is a frequent conductor/clinician and has led numerous high school and middle school All-State and All-County clinics throughout the United States. From 2015 – 2018 Troy served as conductor of the Cannon Music Camp, where he also played viola in the faculty string ensemble. One of Troy’s most creative projects at the Winston-Salem Symphony was an educational program that partnered the orchestra with a San Francisco-based non-profit organization called the African Library Project. This program, created in conjunction with the educational concert series and a corresponding short story competition, used music to focus on the importance of literacy both locally and abroad. Through this program, Troy raised over 50,000 books to start 50 new libraries for schools in Botswana, while allowing three students in Winston-Salem the opportunity to receive new instruments and music lessons. This program garnered national attention and Troy was invited to lead a presentation on the project at the 2010 League of American Orchestras conference in Atlanta.

Troy earned a bachelor’s degree in music at UNC-Greensboro, where he also completed his master’s degree in orchestral conducting as a student of Maestro Robert Gutter. He has studied at the prestigious Pierre Monteux School under Maestro Michael Jinbo and with renowned conducting pedagogues Maestro Gerard Schwarz and Maestro Kenneth Kiesler at the Conductors Retreat at Medomak and competed in the Jordanian International Conducting Competition. In his free time, he enjoys reading, studying new music, traveling, and singing.