About

Known for his refined musicianship, impassioned performances, and collaborative leadership, Matthew Abernathy is making his mark as one of America’s most promising young conductors. He is currently the Associate Director of Choirs at the University of Michigan where he leads the internationally acclaimed Michigan Men’s Glee Club and teaches in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

Prior to his appointment at the University of Michigan, Abernathy was the Artistic Director of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay – the Principal Chorus for The Florida Orchestra – where he led a 140-voice symphonic chorus that performed major choral-orchestral works. Under his direction, the chorus saw unprecedented musical and organizational growth, and continued its legacy of commissioning living composers and providing a comprehensive community engagement program reaching all ages throughout Tampa Bay.

From 2016–2022, Abernathy was on staff at Minnesota Opera where he served as Music Director of their youth opera program Project Opera, Children’s Chorus Director, and Guest Chorus Master.

Other recent professional conducting highlights include appearances with Orquestra Sinfônica de Sorocaba, The Florida Orchestra, St. Pete Baroque, Wintergreen Music Festival, the MidAmerica Festival Choir & New England Symphonic Ensemble, and the Bach Society of Minnesota.

A noted specialist in preparing choirs, Abernathy has served as the Chorus Master for the Lakes Area Music Festival, Assistant Chorus Master/Section Leader with the Minnesota Chorale, and has prepared ensembles for conductors including Michael Francis, Steven Mercurio, Michael Christie, Christian Reif, Osmo Vänskä, Jonathan Brandani, Nicholas Kraemer, and many others.

In 2024, Abernathy was named the Grand Prize winner of the MidAmerica International Choral Conducting Competition and made his prize-winning debut at Carnegie Hall in June 2026. Additionally, he distinguished himself as a semifinalist – and the only American admitted – in the 2022 Fosco Corti International Competition for Choral Conductors in Turin, Italy, selected from over 60 international applicants.

Dr. Abernathy is a devoted pedagogue and champion for music education and art-making at all ages. He was the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Tampa where he conducted Chamber Singers, Camerata, and taught the undergraduate Aural Skills sequence. He has also held faculty positions at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota. His academic research focuses on aural skills and musicianship (particularly as it pertains to training conductors), and leadership for conductors.

Dr. Abernathy has furthered his studies at the Medomak Conductors Retreat, Chorus America Conducting Academy, and Norfolk Chamber Choir Workshop. He has been lucky to work with many musicians who have greatly influenced him, and counts among his mentors Kathy Saltzman Romey, Jerry Blackstone, Duain Wolfe, Matthew Mehaffey, Eugene Rogers, Erin Freeman, and Kenneth Kiesler. He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), and Onondaga Community College.