Matt OglEsby Bio

Mr. Oglesby was praised by Charles Ward from the Houston Chronicle as “a fearless tenor with great voice” for his portrayal of Lindoro in L’Italiana in Algeri. His extensive list of operatic roles include Camp Williams in Cold Sassy Tree, Uncle Vezzinetin the Italian Straw Hat, Governor in Candide, Basilio in La Nozze di Figaro, Borsa in Rigoletto and Gherrado in Gianni Schicchi. As a concert soloist Mr. Oglesby has performed the tenor solos in Carmina Burana and Mozart’s Requiem under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductor and composer Z. Randall Stroope.  For these performances Dr. Stroope praised Mr. Oglesby saying “His lyric tenor voice carries quite easily above an orchestra and he brings a unique artistry to his performances.  His musicianship and work with conductors is second to none” Mr. Oglesby also enjoys performing with the West Texas A&M University Orchestra where he has performed the role of Obadiah in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, as well as the tenor solos in Carmina Burana and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.  In 2017 Mr. Oglesby performed with the Texas All-State Mixed Choir as the invited Tenor Soloist in the Lord Nelson Mass. In recital, Mr. Oglesby recently performed Schumann’s Dichterliebe at Lycoming College in 2018 an in 2017 presentedfor the Song Collaborators Consortia, along with composer Dr. BJ Brooks, on Dr. Brooks composition on the Goethe texts of the Harper Songs. In 2008 Mr. Oglesby was selected as one of twelve to participate in the prestigious National Association of Teachers of Singing intern program.  During his time as an intern Mr. Oglesby participated in a documentary highlighting the Future Artist/Teachers of the next generation.   Mr. Oglesbycan be heard on the Premier Recording of Dominic Argento’s Casanova’s Homecoming on the Newport Classics Label.

As a teacher of singing, Mr. Oglesby’s current and formerstudents have performed on Broadway, and regional opera companies as well as National and International Tours. Incompetition, Mr. Oglesby’s students have won on regional and national levels.

Mr. Oglesby currently is the Coordinator of Vocal Studies at West Texas A&M University School of Music.  Along with teaching at WTAMU he is also a sought after Master Class instructor, most recently, being invited to Houston Baptist University and Oklahoma State University as a Master Class Instructor as well as an Artist in Residence with Lycoming College in April 2018. As an adjudicator, Mr. Oglesby has adjudicated the National Prelims for National Association of Teachers of Singing in 2017 and 2018 as well as many semi-final and finals for regional NATS conferences.  Mr. Oglesby has previously served as one of six Teaching Fellows with the International Performing Arts Institute in Kiefersfelden, Germany.    

Mr. Oglesby earned his B Mus. from the University of Houston and an MA in vocal performance from West Texas A&MUniversity.  Mr. Oglesby has studied voice with Mr. Joseph Evans, Dr. Robert Hansen and Mila Gibson.