Matthew Loden is the dean of the Shepherd School of Music. He was named to the position in 2021 and came to Rice with an abundance of experience as a talented musician and a strong leader. Loden has performed around the world, judged competitions, served as a speaker for national conferences and been a music panelist and university lecturer. He's also worked as an adviser and mentor with some of the top music training programs throughout the U.S., including the League of American Orchestras Management Fellowship program, a premier leadership training program designed to launch executive careers in orchestra management.

After graduating from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music with bachelor's and master's degrees in violin performance, Loden built an extensive resume performing in a diverse range of venues and genres.

Loden became CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in July 2018. During his tenure, he redefined the role of an orchestra in a diverse international city and has established numerous strategic initiatives to expand the community’s accessibility to classical music. Before assuming his role in Toronto, Loden served as interim co-president of the Philadelphia Orchestra and as its executive vice president for institutional advancement, with responsibility for sustaining strategic direction and overseeing all board, philanthropic, communications and external relations efforts. He also served as board secretary for the Academy of Music, with oversight over the oldest opera house in the U.S., and was executive liaison with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Before moving to Philadelphia, Loden was vice president and general manager at the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he supervised operations for approximately 400 musical events each summer, including five orchestras, opera productions, chamber music programs, master classes and lectures for 650 students. Other past roles include serving as artistic director of Young Audiences Inc. of Houston, where he managed artistic programming for a roster of 100 artists and ensembles, designed in-school performances, workshops and residency programs and created innovative arts partnerships. He also was  a former director of admissions at the Shepherd School.