Matt Cooksey

ARTS ADMINISTRATOR - DIRECTOR

BARITONE - WRITER/ARRANGER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Matt Cooksey is an artistic administrator and stage director and based in Tallahassee. He works as the Opera Program Manager for Florida State University, where he earned two Master’s degrees. He manages three annual opera productions and other projects in collaboration with departments in the College of Music.

Cooksey previously served as the Director of Artistic Operations for Florida Grand Opera. During his time at FGO, he coordinated four seasons of programming, helped cast two, and directed Il barbiere di Siviglia (2023), La bohΓ¨me (2024), and L’elisir d’amore (2025). He was also named to the Top 20 under 40 Professionals by Brickell Magazine in 2024. His time at FGO followed a two-year appointment at the Indianapolis Opera as their Resident Assistant Director.

Other directing credits include projects with the Frost School of Music, Aspen Opera Theater, Opera NEO, and the Indiana University New Music Ensemble. The bulk of Cooksey’s output includes productions for young audiences, including eight touring productions that he has either directed, written, or arranged. Matt earned his undergraduate vocal performance degree at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He spends his off time at home with family.

The author requests that this biography not be copied or distributed directly from this page. Any interested party should reach out for a personalized copy.

For more information about Matt’s past endeavors as a singer, please click here.

Photo Credits: Denis Ryan Kelly Jr., Roger David Manning, Benjamin Werley


Operatic schedule

πŸŸ₯ Director, main stage

🟧 Assistant Director, main stage

🟨 Director, concert presentation

🟩 Director, outreach/workshop production

🟦 Production Assistant

πŸŸͺ Full year position


2024-25 Season

2023-24 Season

2022-23 Season

2021-22 Season

2019-20 Season