Welcome from the Director
Dear Students and Families,
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Welcome! I’m so glad you’ve found your way here.​​
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Conservatory Compass was created from a simple idea: no musician should have to navigate the college and conservatory application process alone. Whether you’re preparing your first college application, crafting your materials, or auditioning for competitive programs, this journey is uniquely yours, and you deserve clear, empathetic, and experienced guidance every step of the way.
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Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible young artists who are now thriving at universities and conservatories, cultivating their young careers. Through that experience, I saw just how transformational this process can be—not just as a gateway to college, but as a moment of self-discovery, artistic development, and personal growth.
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We are here to help you reflect, organize, prepare, and perform with intention. I created this resource to offer structure without rigidity, expertise without ego, and support without judgment. Every worksheet, course unit, and coaching session is designed to help you uncover your strengths, understand your options, and confidently take action toward your goals.
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Thank you for being here. I can’t wait to see where your journey leads—and to help you Find Your Way.
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With gratitude,
Dr. Mathew Ward
Founder, Conservatory Compass
My Story
It is invaluable to be raised in a musical family and benefit from their institutional knowledge and expertise. That isn’t my story. My family and I had to navigate every step of the journey from scratch. Youth symphonies, competitions, chamber music festivals, college auditions, graduate applications, even the dissertation process—all of it was new and unfamiliar each time.
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Along the way, I sought out mentorship, built a supportive community, and gathered the tools and resources that I now share through Conservatory Compass. That journey led me to perform with professional orchestras and opera companies, create new community-facing ensembles, lead a conducting institute, and direct ensembles for colleges, ballet, musicals, and chamber music festivals.
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If your informative years sound anything like mine, hear this: You are not behind. You are not alone. You have the talent, and with focused support and determination, the next steps are yours to claim. Your journey continues here.
Bio
Dr. Mathew Ward is a conductor, violinist, and dedicated teaching artist whose work bridges pre-college, collegiate, and community-based artistic development. He currently serves as Director of Orchestras at the California School of the Arts in Duarte, where he leads the Symphonia, Philharmonic, Ballet Orchestra, and Pit Orchestra ensembles. He also coordinates the school’s String Chamber Music Program and has developed and taught courses in conducting, music history, theory, ear training, college readiness, and recital preparation. Dr. Ward is also Orchestra Director and violin faculty at the Orange Coast College, and Studio Orchestra Director at Citrus College.
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His previous appointments include Interim Music Director of the Saddleback College Symphony Orchestra and Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of the South in Tennessee, where he led the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra and taught courses in theory, history, and piano. His work has taken him across the U.S. and abroad, including tours and competitions in Australia, Italy, and England. In addition to his year-round work, he is a conductor and chamber music faculty at Arrowbear Music Camp, the former program manager for the Conducting Institute at Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and guest conductor for California Baptist University summer programs.
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As a violinist, Dr. Ward has performed with professional ensembles such as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Louisiane, Boston Civic Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony, Gulfport Symphony Orchestra, and San Diego City Ballet Symphony. He has also worked as a studio musician at WGBH Boston with SoundtRec Orchestra and collaborated with multiple opera and theatre companies across the country. His commitment to education includes mentorship in El Sistema-inspired programs in Boston and Los Angeles Philharmonic’s National Take a Stand Festival.
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Dr. Ward earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from Louisiana State University, where he studied with Venezuelan conductor Carlos Riazuelo and completed a minor in Violin Performance under Dr. Lin He. He holds a Master of Music and Undergraduate Diploma in Violin Performance, as well as a Teaching Artist Certificate from the Longy School of Music of Bard College under the guidance of Jesse Mills, Dr. Sean Wang, Rieko Aizawa, and Nicholas Tzavaras. He also holds a Career Technical Education teaching credential from the State of California. Dr. Ward lives in Los Angeles with his two kittens, Esme and Aubrey, and continues to champion excellence, individuality, and access in music education.