Dr. Matt Travis Named Chief Operating Officer of
Midland Center for the Arts 

Center Promotes Senior Director of Artistic Planning to New Leadership Role

Midland Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Matt Travis to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this new position, Dr. Travis will oversee various operations of the Center, including programming, marketing, technical services, and visitor experience. Dr. Travis has been a dedicated administrator at Midland Center for the Arts for over six years, and his extensive experience in arts administration and programming will be pivotal to the Center.

“Matt is an exceptional leader at the Center, and will be essential to our organization as we embark on a new era of growth and innovation,” said Jon Loos, President and CEO of Midland Center for the Arts. “With his strive for artistic excellence, deep connections to the community, and track record of success, I am confident that he will continue to forge strong bonds with our staff as we embark on an exciting new phase in the Center’s history.”

A Bay City native, Dr. Travis holds a bachelor's degree in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in Choral Conducting from Penn State University, and a doctorate in Choral Conducting from the University of Connecticut, where he completed a dissertation on Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda. In addition to his work at UConn, Dr. Travis served as Music Director of the Kent Singers and as Male Choirs Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Connecticut chapter of The American Choral Directors Association.

In his tenure with the Center, Dr. Travis spearheaded programming for the Midland Symphony Orchestra and Choral programs, forging relationships with community artists and industry leaders from Dan Dickerson to Chris Mann to The King’s Singers. His extensive experience in the arts, combined with his strong leadership skills, has cultivated the success of sold-out Orchestra events and the conception of the Rising Stars program, which facilitates professional relationships between Great Lakes Bay region students and Broadway industry professionals; now entering its third year.

“Midland Center for the Arts has been an integral part of my life for over 30 years. Some of my most poignant memories have happened here at the Center,” said Dr. Travis. “I am absolutely thrilled to work with the rest of our team in an effort to use our Center as a mechanism to improve the lives of those around us.”

Midland Center for the Arts is a cultural destination for the Great Lakes Bay Region and State of Michigan. Imagine a place where you can experience the best of art, science, history, music, theatre, dance, and film, all under one stunning roof. This vibrant and unique institution, housed within an architecturally significant building, is a haven for artists, students, historians, and audiences alike. With its impressive 1,500-seat auditorium, 400-seat theater, interactive museum of science and art, Midland County Historical Society, and Studio School art studios, the possibilities for entertainment and enrichment are endless. Ready to explore? Visit midlandcenter.org.

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