Meet Dr. Arau

Dr. Matthew Arau, author of Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond and founder of Upbeat Global, is an Associate Professor of Music and the Chair of the Music Education Department and Symphonic Band Conductor at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. Dr. Arau also serves as Leadership Editor for GIA Publications, a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician, and the monthly Leadership Tips contributor to SB&O+ Magazine. Additionally, he is on the graduate conducting faculty of the American Band College of Central Washington University and graduate music education faculty at VanderCook College of Music.

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Dr. Arau has guest conducted and presented clinics on student leadership, mindfulness, growth mindset, rehearsal techniques, and creating positive cultures in person in over 30 states and 4 continents in person. He has presented at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic several times, the Western International Band Clinic, the NAfME National Conference, numerous State and Regional Music Education Association Conferences, and the Conn-Selmer Institute. Thousands of high school students have attended his Upbeat! Leadership Academies across the country to develop their leadership skills and reach for their fullest potential. In addition to being in demand as a keynote speaker, presenter, and professional development facilitator, Dr. Arau has conducted honor bands in Australia, Greece, Cyprus, and Malaysia, and All-State honor bands across the United States. 

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Dr. Arau draws on a deep reservoir of fifteen years of experience as a successful middle school and high school band director in Loveland, Colorado, where he led his bands at Walt Clark Middle School and Loveland High School to numerous honor performances and championships and pioneered the Leadership Symposium.