BIOGRAPHY
Matthew Salvaggio is the Music Director and Conductor of the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra and Founder/Music Director of the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra. Known for his dynamic programming and deep commitment to equitable access in classical music, Salvaggio leads ensembles that amplify underrepresented voices, challenge conventional repertoire, and connect diverse communities through meaningful musical experiences.
As Music Director of the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, Salvaggio conducts the Youth Symphony and oversees eleven ensembles and a diverse team of conductors and coaches serving an 84% minority-majority student body. Under his leadership, the organization achieved the largest expansion in its history, adding two new ensembles, increasing student enrollment by 21% and launching new outreach partnerships, including a transformative program with the Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue that provides instruments and instruction to underserved students.
At the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra, Salvaggio has cultivated an ensemble praised for its bold repertoire and inclusive ethos. In just three seasons, the orchestra has premiered new works, showcased historically excluded composers, and featured a diverse roster of talented guest artists from the region’s top orchestras. A review from Cleveland Classical described his direction as “clear and expressive” with “an evident love for the material,” citing compelling interpretations of music by Anna Clyne, Katahj Copley, and Howard Hanson.
A core focus of Salvaggio’s artistic vision lies in revitalizing the music of 20th-century American symphonists such as Howard Hanson, David Diamond, Paul Creston, and Walter Piston. He believes that their voices offer a critical link between the American orchestral past and its future - resonant with audiences today and essential to a more complete understanding of American musical heritage. Through thoughtful, emotionally resonant programming, he seeks to reintroduce these vital voices into 21st-century concert life and reframe their work as a foundational part of American musical identity.
Salvaggio’s previous appointments include Music Director of the Euclid Symphony Orchestra, Erie Junior Philharmonic, and University Heights Symphonic Band, as well as academic positions as Professor of Conducting at Mercyhurst University, Hiram College, and Lakeland Community College. A committed mentor and educator, he developed the Euclid Symphony’s Tom Baker Young Artists’ Competition and an assistant conductor mentorship program that supports the development of early-career educators.
He has collaborated with acclaimed artists whose credential include principal and leadership positions in some of the country’s top orchestras, including Alan Baer (Principal Tuba, New York Philharmonic), John Rautenberg (former Associate Principal Flute Cleveland Orchestra), John DiCesare (Principal Tuba, Seattle Symphony), Joshua Lauretig (Second Oboe, Buffalo Philharmonic), Ken Johnston (former Concertmaster, Erie Philharmonic), among others.
As an educator, Salvaggio’s influence is reflected in the success of his students, many of whom have gone on to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at leading institutions, including the Eastman School of Music, Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan.
A champion of both contemporary music and the core orchestral canon, Salvaggio has commissioned, premiered, and recorded works from composers including Mark Camphouse, Griffin Candey, Steve Danyew, Anthony O’Toole, Michael Kallstrom, Kevin Walczyk, Tony Manfredonia, and Robert Gross. His curatorial choices reflect a balance of innovation and tradition, and a deep commitment to musical storytelling that resonates with today’s audiences.
Salvaggio has appeared on the ClassicalQueer Podcast, Podium Time Podcast, and Everything Band Podcast, offering insights into leadership, programming, and youth orchestra development. He is a sought-after speaker and clinician on music education, artistic equity, and the evolving role of orchestral institutions in the 21st century.
He is a second prize winner of The American Prize in Conducting, and a finalist of The American Prize for Band/Wind Ensemble Performance. Salvaggio holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Akron and a Master of Music in Conducting from Kent State University, where he studied with Scott Seaton and Wayne Gorder. He has undertaken additional conducting study in symposia with Donald Hunsberger, Mallory Thompson, Kenneth Kiesler, Craig Kirchhoff, Michael Haithcock, Michael Votta, and Rodney Winther.
Matt lives in Seattle with his partner, Joshua.
Updated June 2025