Matthew Schulz

Dr. Matthew J. Schulz is a multifaceted stage director and theatre artist dedicated to fostering inclusivity, community, and integrity in the arts. Passionate about the role opera and the musical stage play in shaping society and deepening our understanding of the human condition, Schulz is known for cultivating a collaborative, energized rehearsal environment where artists feel seen, heard, and empowered to perform at their highest level. His work seeks to create space for the full spectrum of life’s eccentricities to coexist harmoniously, keeping the beloved operatic canon fresh and relevant while honoring its history and advocating for its expansion — always with a focus on human connection.

Recent and upcoming directing projects include new productions of La Traviata (Fargo-Moorhead Opera), Trouble in Tahiti (Annapolis Opera), Night and Day USA with pianist Steven Blier, Studio Spotlight (Wolf Trap Opera), Opera Iowa (Des Moines Metro Opera), L’elisir d’amore and Der Kaiser von Atlantis (Butler Opera Center), as well as several independent digital works.

As an assistant director, Schulz has worked on new productions of La Cenerentola (Lyric Opera of Kansas City), The Rake’s Progress and Pelléas et Mélisande (Des Moines Metro Opera), Fidelio (Utah Opera), and Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (Austin Opera), along with other productions at major opera companies across the United States.

Schulz earned a BA in Theatre and Vocal Performance from Buena Vista University, and an MM and DMA in Opera Directing from the University of Texas at Austin’s Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music. A protégé of Italian-American director Robert DeSimone and an IDC-accredited Level 2 intimacy director, he trained at San Francisco Opera’s prestigious Merola Opera Program and was a 2023 Directing Fellow at Wolf Trap Opera. He has served on the directing staff at Austin Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, North Carolina Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Omaha, and Utah Opera, and continues to work nationwide with singers from leading young artist programs.