Matt Cooksey is a stage director and artistic administrator based in Tallahassee, FL. He  previously served as director or assistant director at companies including Florida Grand Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, Indianapolis Opera, Opera NEO, the Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University Bloomington), the Frost School of Music (University of Miami), and Florida State University. Some of his most notable work includes La bohème (2024, FGO), Brundibár/Vedem (2022, IO), and Il barbiere di Siviglia (2023, FGO) which was named the second best classical performance of the year in by South Florida Classical Review. He has also assisted notable directors including Paula Suozzi, A. Scott Parry, David Radames Toro, Matthew Lata, Scott Skiba, Benjamin Smith, and will assist James Marvel in the upcoming 2025 production of Massenet’s Cendrillon at FSU.

In addition to his work on the main stage, Cooksey has directed many operas for young audiences, including several that he personally wrote or arranged. His favorite titles include The Three Sillies (IO, 2019), The Tails of Cats and Mice (IO, 2020), and Beatrice & Benedict (FSU, 2017).

His primary occupation, though, is artistic administration. Cooksey is currently in his second year as the Opera Program Manager for Florida State University, where he earned two Master’s degrees. His responsibilities include the administrative organization of the opera area: scheduling, contracting, and general logistics. FSU produces three opera main stage productions and two outreach tours annually, in addition to offering voice, musical literature, and workshop training for Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral candidates. Previous graduates of the southeast’s elite program include Ryan Speedo Green, Alexander Birch Elliott, Anthony Ciaramitaro, Corinne Hayes, Grant Preisser, Joshua Borths, among many others.

He previously served as the Director of Artistic Operations for Florida Grand Opera. Joining the company in 2021 as an Artist Services Manager, he was promoted to Studio Artist Program Manager in 2022 and his final position in 2023 under General Director Susan Danis and concluded under Maria Todaro. During his time at FGO, he administered four seasons of programming, casted two seasons, and directed three main stage productions and many Studio Artist concerts. Some of the Studio Artists selected during his tenure have gone on to make future appearances at companies including Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National, Glimmerglass, Sarasota, Tampa, Mobile, Opera Southwest, Gulfshore, Vero Beach, among many others. He was also named to the Top 20 under 40 Professionals by Brickell Magazine in 2024 before departing for FSU.

Though previously trained as a baritone at Indiana University by Paul Kiesgen and Dr. Robert Harrison and at Florida State University by Dr. Wanda Brister, Matt shifted his focus to directing and administration as his primary focus in 2018. He sang many roles at FSU and various US festivals and even made a concert appearance with the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus in 2018. He also appears on the album “Madeleine Dring: The Lady Composer,” dedicated to to the composer’s West End songs.

* * *

Mr. Cooksey 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 detailed information about Matt’s past endeavors as a singer, please click here.

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