Matt Cooksey

Matt Cooksey is an artistic administrator and stage director and based in Tallahassee. He is Opera Program Manager at the Florida State University College of Music, where he received 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. Cooksey received an undergraduate vocal performance degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.