Matthew J. Olson

Matthew J. Olson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Lecturer in Music and Voice at Carleton College, leading the Chamber Choir and Carleton Choir while teaching Conducting, Musicianship, and Choral Arranging. He concurrently directs Bach Roots Festival and serves as Assistant Conductor of The Singers – MN Choral Artists, with performances lauded by the Star Tribune as 'masterful' for Bach's B Minor Mass and St. John Passion.

His academic credentials include:

• Bachelor of Arts from St. Olaf College
• Master of Music from Michigan State University
• Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota

Olson's research integrates choral conducting pedagogy, vocal technique in choral settings, and Baroque sacred music's relationship with Protestant theology. He actively bridges classical and popular genres through collaborations with indie-rock (Sigur Rós), bluegrass (Monroe Crossing), and hip-hop (Doomtree) artists, reflecting his commitment to democratic teaching methods and the science of learning.

As an award-winning composer, his works published by Colla Voce, Santa Barbara, and SMP receive international performances. He presents at National Collegiate Choral Organization and ACDA conventions and supports non-profits like College Possible through Beyond Artists, a coalition donating concert fees to social causes.