American conductor Matthew Abernathy’s refined musicianship, detailed performances, and dedicated leadership are establishing him as a young conductor of note. Well known for his work in both opera and symphonic chorus, Abernathy has been on staff at Minnesota Opera since 2016 where he currently serves as Interim Chorus Director and Music Director of Project Opera– the company’s nationally acclaimed youth opera program. He has prepared the Minnesota Opera Children’s Chorus for many mainstage performances and conducted Voices of Opera, the Opera’s adult community chorus for several years. In addition, he is Chorus Master at the Lakes Area Music Festival and Assistant Conductor for the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (MN). Abernathy is also a faculty member at the University of St. Thomas.
Originally from central New York, Abernathy holds degrees from SUNY Potsdam—Crane School of Music, University of Michigan, and is completing his DMA in Conducting at the University of Minnesota.