Matthew R. Conaway was appointed to the Purdue faculty in August 2012. He was awarded tenure in July 2018, and was promoted to Full Professor in July 2024. He serves as Associate Director of the famed “All-American” Marching Band, directs the “Boiler Brass” Men’s Basketball Pep Band, conducts the Purdue Symphonic Band and Fall Concert Band, and coordinates the Volunteer Management Team. Conaway currently serves the University as an active member of Purdue’s Advisory Committee on Equity, Athletic Affairs Committee, and the Primary, Area, and University Promotions Committees. Conaway also served for seven years as a member of the Purdue University Senate, with experience on the Student Affairs and Steering Committees. He has mentored many student organizations, previously serving as sponsor for the Beta Sigma chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, the Gamma Pi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the Bands & Orchestras Technology Office, and the Purdue Musical LGBTQ+ Society.

Conaway is one of this generation’s most prolific and performed arrangers of music for athletic bands. In addition to serving as the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band’s primary arranger, he has written for athletic bands at many high schools and colleges throughout the country. His arrangement of “Back Home Again In Indiana” is performed annually as the signature moment of the Indianapolis 500 pre-race ceremony, reaching audiences of over 5 million people each year. His growing catalog of over 100 published marching and concert band arrangements is available from the Hal Leonard Corporation, with recordings available on their YouTube channel.

Conaway is also an award-winning, internationally-known composer for concert bands, with over fifty original works currently in publication. His compositions range from very beginning through very advanced, based on his experience working with all levels of performers in grade 5-12, collegiate, and professional ensembles. Conaway was honored to experience his Carnegie Hall debut in March 2016 with a world premiere performance by the Purdue Wind Ensemble. His original compositions are available globally through the C.L. Barnhouse Company.

Prior to his appointment to Purdue’s faculty, Conaway served for ten years as the Director of Bands for the West Lafayette Community School Corporation, during which time the program received many state and national accolades for musical excellence. He brought back the Marching “Red Devil” Band, basketball pep band, jazz band, and symphony orchestra to the music department, and raised band program enrollment by over 200 students in grades 5-12. During his tenure, West Lafayette became regarded as one of the great small-school music programs in Indiana, with two state concert finals appearances and dozens of superior festival ratings. Under Conaway’s leadership, the NAMM Foundation recognized the West Lafayette Community School Corporation as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education in America” in 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

After graduating from Woodhaven (MI) High School in 1997, Conaway attended Indiana University – Bloomington, where his mentors included David Woodley, Jean Sinor, Doug Stotter, Scott Hartman, and Edwin Anderson. He received his Bachelor of Music Education with Distinction in 2001, and earned a Masters of Music degree from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University in 2010. He is a member of CBDNA, NBA, Indiana Bandmasters Association, and ASCAP. He is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi, and was inducted into the Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Mu in 2012. He is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator at concert and marching band festivals and competitions throughout the United States.