Matthew Kasper
American conductor Matthew Kasper has established himself as a dynamic force in the artistic communities where he has performed. His ability to seamlessly bridge American music of the last century with its traditional European roots grants him a vast and diverse repertoire, with a particular devotion to elevating the works of composers such as Ives, Shostakovich, Weill, Copland, and Jessie Montgomery, among others.
Kasper’s versatility has been on full display through an array of innovative programs during his tenure as Assistant and then Resident Conductor of The Phoenix Symphony from 2015 to 2023. Over the course of more than 250 performances — ranging from subscription series and pops concerts to educational initiatives and chamber orchestra performances — he has captivated audiences and solidified his presence as a major artistic figure in Phoenix. Notable highlights from his time include masterful interpretations of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Ives’ Second Symphony, Handel’s Messiah, and a two-year tenure as conductor for the prestigious Bösendorfer Piano Competition. In recognition of his artistic excellence and profound impact on the community, he was promoted to Resident Conductor in 2018.
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Beyond Phoenix, Kasper’s reputation for compelling and emotionally resonant performances has garnered national and international recognition. In 2020, the Solti Foundation U.S. honored him with a prestigious Career Assistance Award. More recently, he participated in Jukka-Pekka Saraste’s highly regarded LEAD! program for young conductors, further honing his craft among some of the world’s top conducting talents.
A sought-after collaborator, Kasper has undertaken guest and cover-conducting engagements across the United States, Asia, and Europe. Recent seasons have seen him working with esteemed ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Milwaukee Ballet, Rochester Philharmonic, Tucson Symphony, Evergreen Symphony in Taiwan, San Diego Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has also conducted the Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy, Opéra National de Lorraine, Queens Symphony Orchestra, The Phoenix Symphony, and the Salt River Ballet.
Equally accomplished in the orchestra pit as he is on the concert stage, Kasper was named Principal Conductor of Ballet Arizona, a historic appointment marking the first time in the company’s history that such a title has been granted. This prestigious position came after his last-minute yet triumphant leadership of two major productions — Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Prokofiev’s demanding Romeo and Juliet — during the 2021 – 22 season. His leadership in ballet has also extended to frequent guest conducting appearances with New York City Ballet, where he has conducted All-Balanchine programs, Nutcracker, and Swan Lake, in addition to leading the company on tour at the Kennedy Center.
As an opera conductor, Kasper excels in both classic repertoire and contemporary works, contributing to numerous acclaimed productions in the U.S. and abroad. His portfolio includes world premiere operas by Gerald Barry and Bruce Saylor, alongside celebrated performances of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, Britten’s Owen Wingrave, and Bernstein’s Candide, among others.
Dedicated to expanding access to music education, Kasper has served as Artistic and General Director of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO) since 2020. Under his visionary leadership, the organization has forged meaningful collaborations that have greatly benefited young musicians. These include a conducting fellowship with Arizona State University and full-scale ballet productions in partnership with Ballet Arizona School, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Glazunov’s Raymonda, and the world premiere of a new ballet set to Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, choreographed by Ib Andersen. Passionate about making music accessible to all children, Kasper continues to build vital relationships to realize this vision. In recognition of his impact as a transformative arts leader, he was named a 2023 Piper Fellow by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, a prestigious award granted to a select group of nonprofit leaders, providing significant financial support for professional and artistic development.
Kasper holds degrees in violin performance from Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music, where he studied under Burton Kaplan, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts, where he trained with Shmuel Ashkenasi. His chamber music training includes instruction from Marcy Rosen, Daniel Phillips, Robert Chen, and Roger Chase. He also earned a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Queens College under Maurice Peress and pursued further studies as a scholarship student at the esteemed Pierre Monteux School for Conductors.
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Matthew Kasper currently resides in Phoenix with his wife, three children, and their beloved golden retrievers, Bear and Lucy.