Matthew Pavon

Matthew Pavon is a conductor and violist studying orchestral conducting under Farkhad Khudyev at The Butler School of Music. In his role as assistant instructor for university orchestras, Matthew is an active in conductor and administrator for the University Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as co-director for the University Orchestra.

Matthew holds viola performance degrees from Evangel University (B.M. '19) and Missouri State University (M.M. '22). While at Missouri State, he served as a graduate assistant for orchestral studies and led the Missouri State University Orchestra and the University Repertory ensembles for three years. After graduating, he continued as the assistant conductor for Missouri State University from 2022 to 2023.

Guest conducting appearances have included concerts with the Austin Civic Orchestra, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, the Missouri Philharmonic, Drury University Orchestra, and several orchestral clinics. Matthew believes in supporting the arts in his communities. In 2021, he founded the Galloway Chamber Orchestra in Springfield, MO, and served as their artistic director until July 2024. Matthew has also worked as both a guest conductor and workshop conductor for the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. As a violist, he was an active member of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for seven years and a frequent substitute violist with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Matthew’s passion is connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds through music. He lives in Austin, TX, with his wife, Leianna, and their two mini-Australian Shepherds, Koda and Ellie.