Matthew Koveal

MATTHEW KOVEAL (he/him) is the Executive Director of the Philly Pops, where he leads a reimagined symphonic pops organization dedicated to accessibility, artistic excellence, and deep community connection. His leadership is grounded in a belief that great music should reflect and serve the people who hear it and he is dedicated to eliminating barriers to entry, forging strong local partnerships, and creating meaningful cultural experiences across Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

After the abrupt shutdown of the former Philly Pops in 2023, Matt stepped in to help lead the displaced musicians through a period of uncertainty. Working closely with orchestra members, he helped found the No Name Pops, a resilient artist-centric ensemble built on transparency, collaboration, and public trust. Under his guidance, the orchestra has not only survived but thrived, quickly establishing itself with sold-out performances, new community initiatives, and a growing base of support, reclaiming its place in Philadelphia’s cultural life and preparing to officially return as the Philly Pops in 2025.

Beyond his executive leadership, Matt’s wide-ranging professional background includes orchestral management, concert production, audio engineering, education, and performance. He has worked with artists and institutions across genres, including Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Victor Wooten, John Prine, Renee Fleming, Ingrid Michaelson, The Flaming Lips, Mason Bates, Kevin Puts, OneRepublic, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Jack Black. 

Matt has served in key production roles for events across the country, including as Production Manager for the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival in New York. As an avid proponent of music education, he co-founded Agora Brass, a pre-professional ensemble providing opportunities for young musicians and composers, and is a founding member of Equity Arc, a national organization dedicated to creating a level playing field for talented BIPOC musicians in classical music.

Matt serves on the board of Network for New Music, a contemporary music ensemble in Philadelphia, PA. He holds an M.M. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder and a B.S. in Music Education from Messiah University. His principal teachers include John Thyhsen (former Philly Pops’ principal trumpet), Dr. William Stowman, and Justin Bartels.