Matthew J. Brooks, D.M.A.
- Conductor of Youth Symphony
Additional Information
Biography
Matthew Brooks is an associate professor and director of Orchestral Activities in Music & Medicine at University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) where he leads the University Orchestra and teaches graduate conducting. As part of a collaboration between the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the UNO School of Music, he was critical in creating the Nebraska Medical Orchestra in 2018, for which he is the founding music director and conductor.
He serves on the UNO Medical Humanities faculty and is a courtesy faculty member in UNMC’s College of Medicine, where he coordinates Music & Medicine activities in partnership with UNMC Campus Wellness. His work at UNMC was recognized by the University awarding him the Valor in Educational Service Award – one of eight Impact in Education Awards.
As an academic conductor, Brooks previously served on the music faculties of Shasta College and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Highlights from his academic conducting include leading annual youth concerts as part of Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program and collaborations with Broadway legend Patti Lupone, New York Philharmonic Concertmaster Frank Huang, American bassist Edgar Meyer, celebrated opera singer Samuel Ramey, and the late composer Peter Schickele — also known as P.D.Q. Bach.
He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He regularly guest conducts the Omaha Symphony Music Mentors program, and numerous middle school and high school honor orchestras. He frequently presents at state, national, and international conferences and his peer-reviewed research has been published in the American Medical Association (AMA) Journal of Ethics and the Journal of Wellness. Brooks co-founded the National Association of Medical Orchestras in 2021, is the President-Elect of the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) North Central Region, the Assistant Editor for the CODA Journal, and serves on the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National College Committee.
He holds a Bachelor of Music in music education, a Master of Music in orchestral conducting, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting, pedagogy, and literature. Brooks is currently completing the requirements for a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling, as he remains interested in pursuing greater intersectionality between music and wellness as well as encouraging positive mental health within the academic and professional music communities.
Additional Information
Biography
Matthew Brooks is an associate professor and director of Orchestral Activities in Music & Medicine at University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) where he leads the University Orchestra and teaches graduate conducting. As part of a collaboration between the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the UNO School of Music, he was critical in creating the Nebraska Medical Orchestra in 2018, for which he is the founding music director and conductor.
He serves on the UNO Medical Humanities faculty and is a courtesy faculty member in UNMC’s College of Medicine, where he coordinates Music & Medicine activities in partnership with UNMC Campus Wellness. His work at UNMC was recognized by the University awarding him the Valor in Educational Service Award – one of eight Impact in Education Awards.
As an academic conductor, Brooks previously served on the music faculties of Shasta College and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Highlights from his academic conducting include leading annual youth concerts as part of Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program and collaborations with Broadway legend Patti Lupone, New York Philharmonic Concertmaster Frank Huang, American bassist Edgar Meyer, celebrated opera singer Samuel Ramey, and the late composer Peter Schickele — also known as P.D.Q. Bach.
He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He regularly guest conducts the Omaha Symphony Music Mentors program, and numerous middle school and high school honor orchestras. He frequently presents at state, national, and international conferences and his peer-reviewed research has been published in the American Medical Association (AMA) Journal of Ethics and the Journal of Wellness. Brooks co-founded the National Association of Medical Orchestras in 2021, is the President-Elect of the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) North Central Region, the Assistant Editor for the CODA Journal, and serves on the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National College Committee.
He holds a Bachelor of Music in music education, a Master of Music in orchestral conducting, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting, pedagogy, and literature. Brooks is currently completing the requirements for a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling, as he remains interested in pursuing greater intersectionality between music and wellness as well as encouraging positive mental health within the academic and professional music communities.