Alumnus to Head Eastman School of Music Admissions Updated Sept. 16, 2009

Matthew Ardizzone, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, has been named Associate Dean for Admissions at the Eastman School.

Before joining Eastman, Ardizzone was assistant director for admissions for the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance. A classical guitarist, he has pursued a career combining performance, teaching, and arts and higher education administration.

Matthew Ardizzone

In 1997, Ardizzone became the first guitarist to receive a doctorate in performance, with the coveted Performer’s Certificate, from the Eastman School, where he studied guitar with Nicholas Goluses and Baroque performance practice with Paul O’Dette. During his studies in Rochester, he also taught at Nazareth College, St. John Fisher College, and in the Eastman Community Music School. He earned his bachelor and master of music degrees at Ithaca College.

“It means a great deal to me to be returning to the school that contributed so profoundly to my development as a ‘thinking artist’ and prepared me for the multi-faceted career I’ve enjoyed since,” said Ardizzone.

As a performer, Ardizzone has appeared throughout North America as a soloist, with orchestras, and in a variety of chamber music settings. He has collaborated with such artists as soprano Audrey Luna, flutist Leone Buyse, and violinist Movses Pogossian, with whom he recorded a CD, Duo Forza.

Ardizzone’s solo guitar CD Mazurka! won a 2001 Communicator Crystal Award of Excellence. Other awards include First Prize in the 1995 Rantucci Guitar Competition and fifth place in the 1997 Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition.

Ardizzone joined the admissions staff at Michigan’s School of Music in 2006 and was named assistant director in 2009. Before that, he was executive director of Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates, a non-profit artist management agency, and an adjunct assistant professor of guitar at Bowling Green State University.

In addition to teaching master classes at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Brooklyn College, Ball State University, and other higher education institutions, Ardizzone has complemented his appearances with outreach visits to schools in Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Kansas, and California.

“Matthew brings to Eastman a very strong background from his experience as both a professional musician and an administrator in the arts and higher education,” said Douglas Lowry, dean of the Eastman School. “He also has a strong understanding and connection to the School as an alumnus, and we look forward to the many contributions that he will bring to Eastman.”

Ardizzone replaces Adrian Daly, who became Dean of the Cleveland Institute of Music in July. As Associate Dean for Admissions, Ardizzone oversees all aspects of admissions, works closely with senior administration and faculty to develop and implement recruiting strategies, and has primary responsibility for promoting the value of an Eastman education to prospective students.

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