Art is essential to life, and it is necessary that all have a welcomed seat at the table.
Schulz is known for his collaborative and energized rehearsal room culture where artists feel seen, heard, and empowered– allowing them to perform at their highest ability. The true sign of a successful “product” is an extraordinary process.
Recent Projects include: Night and Day USA, with renowned pianist Steven Blier; Studio Spotlight, with Wolf Trap Opera; L’elisir d’amore, and Der Kaiser von Atlantis, with the Butler Opera Center; and several independent digital works.
Life is but a perception.
No stranger to the world of the “other” and “outcast,” Schulz strives to bring to life art that holds space for all the eccentricities of life to exist harmoniously and be appreciated. We as humans are all searching for connection, and too often Opera is seen as a space that does not easily satisfy that crucial human need. There is no reason our beloved canon cannot be fresh and relevant while honoring its history. It is all about perspective– It is all about finding ways to connect.
The more perspectives that are represented on our theatrical stages and within public and academic discourse, the stronger we will grow as a society.
Matthew is an avid supporter of the expansion of the traditional operatic canon, and seeks to advance his advocacy through their Reframing American Opera initiative, where he continues to work towards cataloging operatic works from historically underrepresented repertoires while challenging the current lack of inclusivity within the term "American Opera." Schulz’s catalogs include: Operatic Works Composed by Women from the U.S.A., Operatic Works by Mexican, Caribbean, and Central American Composers, and Operatic Works by South American Composers. The purpose of these catalogs are to expand accessibility in the hopes of engendering a more equitable future.
Dr. Schulz earned his BA in Theatre and Vocal Performance from Buena Vista University, and their MM and DMA in Opera Directing from the University of Texas at Austin’s Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music. Schulz is a protege of Italian-American director Robert DeSimone and Ecuadorian director Chía Patiño, and is an IDC-accredited level 2 intimacy director. He trained at the prestigious San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, and was a 2023 Directing Fellow at Wolf Trap Opera. Schulz is a member of the staging staff at Austin Opera, and works across the country bringing opera to life.