“Salvaggio’s love for the material was evident and his direction clear.”
-Stephanie Manning, Cleveland Classical

Music Director and Founder - Cleveland Repertory Orchestra
Music Director and Conductor - Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra

Conductor Matthew Salvaggio is Founder and Music Director of the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra and Music Director of the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra. He builds ensembles defined by thematic programming, pairing core symphonic masterworks with contemporary and historically underrepresented voices while expanding access to orchestral performance.

He founded the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra in 2021 to establish a professional ensemble that presents bold, thoughtfully constructed programs while removing financial and geographic barriers to attendance. Under his leadership, the orchestra has steadily expanded its artistic scope and audience base. In recent seasons, he has also appeared as a guest conductor with ensembles beyond his home organizations, including his 2025 debut with the Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra.

At the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, he oversees eleven ensembles serving an 84% minority-majority student body and has led a sustained period of growth while raising repertoire expectations and performance standards.

His artistic collaborations have included members of the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Erie Philharmonic.

Read more here.

NEWS & EVENTS

NEWS

November 2024 - REVIEW: “Cleveland Repertory Orchestra’s season opener contemplates circles of life (Nov. 2).” Read more here.
May 2024 - Matthew Salvaggio hosts composer Nan Avant for a performance of her music with BYSO. Read more here.
November 2023 - Cleveland Repertory Orchestra premieres Griffin Candey’s “Double Aviary” Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra. Click here for performance recording and interviews.
November 2023 - Matthew Salvaggio featured on new album Penumbra, conducting Robert Gross’s Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Nine Instruments. Listen here.
May 2023 - Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra names Matthew Salvaggio as its next Music Director. Read more here.
January 2023 - Matthew Salvaggio is interviewed on Erie News Now promoting his new Prelude Winds program with the Erie Junior Philharmonic.
September 2022 - Matthew Salvaggio is interviewed on the Classical Queer Podcast. Listen to the interview on Spotify.
May 2022 - Cleveland Repertory Orchestra presents its inaugural concert under the baton of its Music Director and founder, Matthew Salvaggio. Listen to an interview about the concert with Matthew featured on WCLV, and read more here.