Matt Conner

Composer

Composer, educator, and director Matt Conner has been a vibrant force in the Washington, DC theatre and music community for more than two decades. Known for his lyrical storytelling and inventive collaborations, Conner has built a distinguished career creating original musicals that blend theatrical sophistication with deeply human themes.

In 2008–2009, Conner was honored as the recipient of the prestigious American Musical Voices Project: The Next Generation award, recognizing emerging voices in American musical theatre. His collaboration with Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia produced several acclaimed commissioned works, including Nevermore(2006), Partial Eclipse (2009), The Hollow (2011), Crossing (2013), and the holiday favorite Silver Belles (2016).

Conner also served as the inaugural commissioned composer for Creative Cauldron’s ambitious five-year Bold New Works initiative. Through that groundbreaking residency, he created a remarkable series of original productions: Turn of the Screw (2015), Monsters of the Villa Diodati (2016), Kaleidoscope (2017), W.I.T.C.H. (2018), and On Air (2019). These works craft imaginative, genre-spanning musical theatre that challenges and inspires audiences.

His more recent theatrical compositions include The Christmas Angel (2022), Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow(2022), which received a Charles MacArthur Award nomination, Whitechapel (2024), and The House of Booth (2025). Across his body of work, Conner consistently explores themes of memory, mystery, identity, and resilience.

As a solo recording artist, Matt’s piano albums—including Winter, Snow, Icicle, Frost, Baby Conner, Blessings, and Fall—reflect his signature atmospheric style and resonate with listeners seeking music that is intimate and reflective.

As a teacher and mentor, Conner has spent years nurturing emerging performers and artists throughout the DC region, contributing significantly to the next generation of theatrical talent.