Students enrolled in MUS 178 Symphony Orchestra and MUS 803 Orchestra for Older Adults are part of the Imperial Valley Symphony. Classes are taught by Dr. Matthew Busse, Music Director and Conductor of the Imperial Valley Symphony.

 

He received his Bachelor of Music in Composition and Theory from Sam Houston State University in Texas where he studied composition with Dr. Newton Strandberg, piano performance under Dr. John Paul and conducting with Dr. Carol Smith. In 1996, he received his Masters of Music in Music Theory at the University of Houston studying composition under Dr. Robert Nelson and music theory with Dr. John Snyder. His conducting studies continued with Mariusz Smolij and Kirk Trevor at Northwestern University in 2001. In 2012, he received his doctorate in conducting from the University of South Carolina where he studied with conductor, Dr. Donald Portnoy. From 1998-2004 he was the Director of Orchestras at Cypress Creek High School in Houston, TX and also taught courses in electronic music, music theory and piano at North Harris Community College. In 2002, he founded the Northwest Houston Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra which he later took on a seven city tour of China with renowned pianist, Tian Jiang as well as other performances around the country. From 2004-2005, he served as the Director of Orchestras at the Savannah Arts Academy in Savannah, GA.