Matthew Vala and his work can be found at the convergence of innovative performing arts education, multi-faceted artistic leadership, and the development of inclusive environments for social and personal growth. Dr. Vala is currently Instructional Assistant Professor teaching music, theatre, musical theatre conducting, and artistically directing operatic and musical theatre productions. 

As an award-winning and innovative educator, Dr. Vala has established and cultivated performing arts education for youth/teen Young Artists to university/pre-professional students throughout Central Illinois. Matthew was the Founder and Education Director of Hoogland Performing Arts Education (HPAE) in Springfield, Illinois for a decade. HPAE provided innovative education with unparalleled youth productions and fostered inclusive environments for the positive growth of future artistic leaders. Highlights of his residency at the Hoogland Center for the Arts include direction/music direction and design of Rodger + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Seussical the Musical, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, James and the Giant Peach, Tarzan, the 2014 Hoogland Gala production of La Cage Aux Folles, Grease, and the 2011 Hoogland Gala production of Ahrens & Flaherty’s Ragtime. 

As a sought-after vocal director and conductor, Matthew has led Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Fantasticks, Nunsense, Fiddler on the Roof, Gypsy, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Stephen Sondheim’s Company, and the Central Illinois premieres of both Disney High School Musical and High School Musical 2.

In 2022, Dr. Vala founded MV Studios, a gathering place for Young Artists to collectively build their gifts in performing arts. Through MV Studios, Young Artists participate in performance-based coursework, community outreach projects, and presenting fully-staged musicals. For more information, visit: mvstudios.org

Matthew’s versatility as a performer and his creative leadership can be seen nationally in the United States. Favorites include Lyric Stage’s Sweeney Todd, Watertower Theatre’s Urinetown, John Adams in 1776, Shrek in Shrek the Musical, the Beast in Disney Beauty and the Beast, and the villainous Agatha Trunchbull in Tim Minchin’s Matilda. His infusion of crossover training can also be seen in his onstage work as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Jamie in The Last Five Years, Martin in Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land, and Mary Sunshine in Chicago. For full bio: matthewvala.com

Dr. Vala holds his Doctor of Music in voice performance and vocal pedagogy from the University of North Texas, Master of Music in voice performance from Illinois State University, Master of Public Administration with certification in nonprofit management from the University of Illinois, and a Bachelor of Music in voice performance from the University of North Texas.