Matthew Hazelwood presently serves as Music Director of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, as well as Music Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra. Recently Maestro Hazelwood was named Music Director Emeritus for his distinguished work over thirteen years as Music Director of the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra. A native of New York, Maestro Hazelwood completed his advanced musical studies at the Mannes College of Music where he studied conducting with Richard Westenburg, theory with Edward Aldwell and Carl Schacter, piano with Emile Harris as well as primary percussion studies with Howard van Hyning (NYC Opera). He has also studied privately with Lukas Foss, Helmuth Rilling and with Enrico Pessina at the La Scala Opera house in Milan. Originally trained as a percussionist, Mr. Hazelwood is also an accomplished pianist and keeps several concertos in his repertoire as well as being an active chamber musician. Recent national radio appearances have included several broadcasts on NPR’s Performance Today and From The Top.

Upon completion of his college studies, Mr. Hazelwood was invited to join the National Symphony of Colombia as timpanist, a position he held for nine seasons in addition to a variety of professional conducting activities. In 1980 he was named Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor of the National Opera of Colombia and in this capacity took an active part in over thirty different productions including such titles as Turandot, Fidelio, La Forza del destino, Cosi fan tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, Cav.-Pag., Tosca, La Boheme, among many other operas of the standard rep. While still based primarily in South America, Mr. Hazelwood conducted the National Opera of Costa Rica in productions of Norma, Il Trovatore, L’Italiana in Algeri as well as the National Symphony of Costa Rica on several occasions.

He has conducted more than 25 different opera productions as well as more than 100 ballet performances.

Upon his return to residence in the United States, he was named associate Music Director of the Michigan State University Opera theater and Music Director of the BCSO and subsequently, as Conductor of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. He has established a widely recognized reputation for a dedication to thoughtful programming, creative rehearsals as well as a passionate commitment to the music of our time through numerous commissions and premieres.

Recent guest conducting engagements have included orchestras throughout Latin America and in Asia; in 1997 he led ten performances of the premiere in Korea of Britten’s Albert Herring as well as the opening orchestral concert of the City of Seoul Orchestra Festival with the Puchon Phiharmonic (Both events at the prestigious Seoul Arts Center.) He has engagements to return to Asia to conduct in Japan and Hong Kong over the next several seasons. Maestro Hazelwood recently made his European debut in Great Britain with the Heart of England Orchestra-an orchestra with which he has maintained an ongoing relationship.

Mr. Hazelwood has led major concerto performances with many distinguished artists including Misha Dichter, Sarah Chang, Russell Sherman, Jermoe Lowenthal, Leon Bates, Janos Strarker, Miles Hoffman, Hilary Hahn, Orli Shaham, Eugen Fodor, Awadagin Pratt, Christopher Taylor, Ralph Votapek and Dudley Moore.