CONDUCTOR :: APRIL 12, 2014
Matthew Westgate is the Director of Instrumental Activities at Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) where he conducts the Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, and Xavier Pep Bands. Dr. Westgate teaches courses in Instrumental Methods and Advanced & Beginning Conducting to graduate and undergraduate music education students. He also serves as administrator and advocate for all instrumental ensembles (Chamber Orchestra, Bands, Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles) and the wind, string, and percussion faculty. In spring of 2013, Matthew was awarded Cincy Magazine's "Outstanding Educator" Award for his work as a teacher and conductor in Cincinnati.
Dr. Westgate is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and arranger, and performs regularly as a classical and jazz trombonist throughout the Midwest. Recent engagements include work with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Lima Symphony, and UC Symphony Orchestra. He is a regular summer faculty member in both the concert and jazz areas at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Twin Lake, MI), and has also served as a conducting assistant in the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca (Lucca, ITALY). In 2007, Matthew was chosen as one of eight conductors to conduct the Eastman Wind Ensemble (Rochester, NY) as part of the first Frederick Fennell Conducting Masterclass, and in 2009 he was billed as one of the West Point Band's "Bernsteins of Tomorrow” (West Point, NY). Matthew completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) where he studied with Rodney Winther and his Masters Degree in Conducting at Western Michigan University where his teacher was Dr. Robert Spradling.
Since arriving at Xavier University in 2008, Matthew has created a groundbreaking conductor mentorship program for undergraduate music education majors, started an annual "Young Composer Commissioning Project" to connect Xavier musicians to up-and-coming composers, and brought in Xavier's first Ensemble-in-Residence: Double or Nothing Ensemble. In spring of 2014, Dr. Westgate and the Xavier University bands and orchestra will travel to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic on their first international performance tour to play concerts in Vienna and Prague.
Dr. Westgate is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and arranger, and performs regularly as a classical and jazz trombonist throughout the Midwest. Recent engagements include work with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Lima Symphony, and UC Symphony Orchestra. He is a regular summer faculty member in both the concert and jazz areas at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (Twin Lake, MI), and has also served as a conducting assistant in the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca (Lucca, ITALY). In 2007, Matthew was chosen as one of eight conductors to conduct the Eastman Wind Ensemble (Rochester, NY) as part of the first Frederick Fennell Conducting Masterclass, and in 2009 he was billed as one of the West Point Band's "Bernsteins of Tomorrow” (West Point, NY). Matthew completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) where he studied with Rodney Winther and his Masters Degree in Conducting at Western Michigan University where his teacher was Dr. Robert Spradling.
Since arriving at Xavier University in 2008, Matthew has created a groundbreaking conductor mentorship program for undergraduate music education majors, started an annual "Young Composer Commissioning Project" to connect Xavier musicians to up-and-coming composers, and brought in Xavier's first Ensemble-in-Residence: Double or Nothing Ensemble. In spring of 2014, Dr. Westgate and the Xavier University bands and orchestra will travel to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic on their first international performance tour to play concerts in Vienna and Prague.
