Matilda Hofman, whose conducting has been described as having “a striking sense of purpose” and “taut and finely controlled” (San Francisco Gate), has a busy and varied performance schedule. She works regularly with a wide range of groups in Europe, and in California, which she has made her home. Matilda has performed at the Salzburg Festival, Berliner Festspiele, Holland Festival, and Ruhrtriennale among others. She has conducted Ensemble Modern, the SWR Sinfonie-Orchester, Ensemble Recherche, and Kammerakademie Potsdam in concerts ranging from full subscription performances to family concerts.

In California she has performed with Festival Opera, Sierra Summer Festival, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and has also worked with Sacramento Opera. She is currently music director of the Diablo Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Empyrean Ensemble.

Matilda is a keen advocate of contemporary music and has been responsible for the commissioning of a number of works, including an opera for the New Cambridge Opera Group. She also regularly performs the music of a wide range of contemporary composers with Kreisler Ensemble, which she founded, and with Empyrean Ensemble. Matilda is also featured on Champs Hill Records and Innova Records. The CD The Glory Tree with works by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, performed by the Kreisler Ensemble, won the “Chamber Music Choice” of the BBC Music Magazine in October 2011. Matilda is passionate about opera and most recently premiered Kurt Rhode’s Death with Interruptions with the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble to critical acclaim.

Matilda studied at the University of Cambridge, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Eastman School of Music, and also as a conducting fellow at the Aspen Music Festival. She’s had the privilege of having wonderful conducting mentors, including Martyn Brabbins, Neil Varon, Michael Morgan, David Zinman, Kurt Masur, Sir Colin Davis, and Ingo Metzmacher. She holds awards from the Conductors’ Guild of America and the League of American Orchestras.