American violist Matthew McDowell began his musical endeavors at the age of four on violin, then shifted his focus to the viola at the age of twenty-one. His primary teachers have included pedagogues such as Ettore Causa, Ivan Vukčević, Boris Abramov, and Gérard Caussé.

In 2021 he completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees in viola and violin at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, graduating with the highest possible academic and artistic accolades. During this time, Matthew studied with renown pedagogues the likes of Paul Coletti, Carol Rodland, Jeffrey Irvine, Csaba Erdelyi, and Sergiu Schwartz.

In his experience at music festivals as soloist and in ensembles, Matthew’s travels have taken him to major festivals throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico, concertizing at places like Verbier Festival Soloist Academy, Festival Pablo Casals, Moritzburg Festival, Miami Music Festival, Festival Santa Pietra, and many others.

While studying at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland (Rolle), Matthew had the opportunity to play concerts across Europe including in prestigious halls such as Victoria Hall in Geneva.

While participating in masterclasses he has played for world renown artists such as Lawrence Powers, Antoine Tamestit, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, Renaud Capucon, Nobuko Imai, and David Gaillard.

Matthew currently studies with Ettore Causa at the Yale School of Music at Yale University.