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 at Florida State University as their Opera Program Manager, where he earned two Master’s degrees. He manages three annual opera productions and other projects in collaboration with departments within 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 and La bohème. He was named to the Top 20 under 40 Professionals by Brickell Magazine in 2024, and will return to FGO to direct L’elisir d’amore in 2025. 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
🟥 Director, main stage
🟧 Assistant Director, main stage
🟨 Director, concert presentation
🟩 Director, outreach/workshop production
🟦 Production Assistant
🟪 Full year position
2024-25 Season
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Florida Grand Opera
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (Miami) on February 1, 2, 4, 2025
Broward Center for the Performing Arts (Fort Lauderdale) on February 13, 15, 2025
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Managing all logistics for the Florida State University opera program in collaboration with Bernard McDonald and James Marvel.
Organize rehearsal and coaching schedule, in addition to production deadlines for scenery, props, lighting, costumes, and wigs and makeup.
Main stage season: Hänsel und Gretel, The Rake's Progress, Orfeo ed Euridice
2023-24 Season
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Florida Grand Opera
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on May 10, 2024
Miracle Theatre (Coral Gables) on May 12, 2024
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Florida Grand Opera
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (Miami) on April 6, 7, 9, 2024
Broward Center for the Performing Arts (Fort Lauderdale) on May 2, 4, 2024
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Writer and arranger
Florida State University & Frost School of Music @ Basile Opera Center
April 22, 27, 2024
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Florida Grand Opera @ Miami-Dade and Broward County school tour
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From the Page to the Stage
Florida Grand Opera
Riviera Presbyterian Church (Miami) on February 16, 2024
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on February 18, 2024
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Scandals and Scoundrels
Florida Grand Opera
Riviera Presbyterian Church (Miami) on November 17, 2023
Center for Spiritual Living (Fort Lauderdale) on November 19, 2023
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Responsible for all artistic activities, artist vacancies, and logistics.
Budgeted, casted, and contracted the 24-25 season.
With the Studio Artist Program Manager, selected singers for the 2024-25 Studio Artist Program.
Oversaw 70 secondary performances, including concerts, outreach performances, pop-events, and affiliate presentations.
Continued to serve as a pre-show lecturer for main stage operas.
Main stage season: La traviata, Pagliacci, La bohème.
2022-23 Season
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Florida Grand Opera
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on May 13, 2023
Miracle Theatre (Coral Gables) on May 14, 2023
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Florida Grand Opera
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts (Miami) on April 29, 30, and May 2, 2023
Broward Center for the Performing Arts (Fort Lauderdale) on May 18, 20, 2023
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Florida Grand Opera & Frost School of Music @ Miami-Dade County Tour
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The Final Act
Florida Grand Opera
St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Coral Gables) on March 25, 2023
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on March 26, 2023
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Meet the Composer: Michael Ching
Florida Grand Opera
St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Coral Gables) on February 18, 2023
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on February 19, 2023
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Promoted to Director of Artistic Operations following unexpected vacancy at the position.
Responsible for casting 3-4 outstanding roles as part of the 22-23 season.
Responsible for budgeting and casting the 23-24 season.
On-boarded a new Studio Artist Program Manager.
Continued pre-show lecture and preview event responsibilities.
Main stage season: El matrimonio secreto (Cimarosa), Gianni Schicchi/Buoso's Ghost (Ching), Tosca, Il barbiere di Siviglia.
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Melody Please!
Florida Grand Opera
St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Coral Gables) on November 19, 2022
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on November 20, 2022
2021-22 Season
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Directed by Paula Suozzi
Aspen Opera Theater and Vocal ARTs @ Michael Klein Music Tent
July 22, 2022
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Responsible for selecting artists with the Director of Artistic Administration.
Cast one Studio vacancy for the 2022-23 season.
Screened, auditioned and cast the 2023-24 Studio Artists.
Selected instructors to work with the Studio Artists.
Scheduled and programed concerts with the Studio Artists.
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Florida Grand Opera
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on May 7, 2022
Miracle Theatre (Coral Gables) on May 8, 2022
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Mozart vs. Salieri
Florida Grand Opera
St. Philip's Episcopal Church on March 24, 2022
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on March 25, 2022
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Indianapolis Opera @ The Toby Theater at Newfields
March 18, 19, 20, 2022
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Verismo = Real Life
Florida Grand Opera
St Philip's Episcopal Church (Coral Gables) on February 17, 2022
ArtServe (Fort Lauderdale) on February 18, 2022
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Beautiful Bel Canto
Florida Grand Opera
St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Coral Gables) on November 11, 2022
Center for Spiritual Living (Oakland Park) on November 12, 2022
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Process all principal, artistic staff, chorister, super, and designer contracting, hospitality, and travel.
Prepared supertitles for all main stage operas.
Programed and staged Studio Artist SongFest concerts.
Offered pre-show lectures for nearly all main stage operas in addition to affiliate group preview events.
Main stage season: A Streetcar Named Desire, Rigoletto, Fellow Travelers, and Agrippina.
2019-20 Season
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Directed by Scott Skiba
Indianapolis Opera @ The Tobias Theater at Newfields
Cancelled due to the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Women in Music and 'Degenerates'
Indianapolis Opera @ Basile Opera Center
February 23, 2020
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Written and arranged by Matt Cooksey
Indianapolis Opera @ State of Indiana tour
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Directed by A. Scott Parry
Indianapolis Opera @ The Tarkington
November 15, 16, 17, 2019
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Spanish Songs and German Roses
Indianapolis Opera @ Basile Opera Center
September 29, 2019
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Written and arranged by Matt Cooksey
Indianapolis Opera @ State of Indiana tour
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Indianapolis Opera @ MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park
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Prepared contracts for choristers, principals, and guest artistic staff.
Assistant-Directed all main stage operas.
Staged outreach operas and concerts with the Resident Artist Program.
Work ended in March 2020 with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.