February 2020
Matthew Swope ’04 was named one of the Most Influential People by Winter Park (Fla.) Magazine. The director of choral activities and chairman of the Department of Performing Arts at Winter Park High School, he is the first K-12 educator to make the list in its five-year existence. He has spent 13 years at the school. “It’s been a great blessing for me,” he said of his tenure there.
Swope a positive influence on the lives of students, colleagues in Florida
His ability to guide nearly 300 students in music and life led Matthew Swope ’04 to be the first K-12 educator to be named to a list of influential residents in central Florida.
The director of choral activities and chairman of the Department of Performing Arts at Winter Park High School was among 24 included in the fifth group of the city’s Most Influential People, a program started by Winter Park Magazine in 2015 to recognize those who make a difference through their work, volunteerism, philanthropy, talents or community engagement. The honorees’ accomplishments were outlined in the June 2019 issue of the magazine.
From Penn State, Swope earned bachelor’s degrees in music, classics and ancient Mediterranean studies; a Master of Music in voice performance and pedagogy; and teaching certification in K-12 music education. He also took summer classes at Penn State Mont Alto during his early undergraduate years.
The 38-year-old oversees the choral department at Winter Park High, which includes 10 vocal ensembles and a total of 280 students. As chairman of the performing arts department, he works with a team of nine arts educators. He teaches AP Music Theory; leads several choral groups, including the Park Singers, Concert Choir, Men’s Chorale and Wildcat Ensemble; and directs two a cappella groups — Take 7 and Naughty Scotty and the Octapella (NSO).
“It’s a really, really tall order,” said Paul Maldonado, an assistant principal at Winter Park High who oversees the performing arts program. “Mr. Swope is a very special person. He’s a great leader. He’s building leaders in our school,” he said of the student body numbering 3,600 in grades nine to 12.
His students admire his passion for music and teaching.
“I think he is such an incredible director and music educator,” said sophomore Ethan Garrepy, a member of the Park Singers, NSO and Concert Choir. “He knows everyone individually, and I think that’s really admirable. He makes time for everyone.”
“He always pushes us to do more than we are capable of,” said senior Meredith Rideout, who is part of the Park Singers and Take 7. “He pushes us to be independent musicians.”
Junior Justin DeLoach said Swope exudes enthusiasm. “You see it coming out in the way he works with you and his knowledge of the music,” said the member of the Park Singers and NSO.
A humble soul who graduated from Waynesboro Area Senior High School in 1999, Swope turned his pride toward his young charges. “I am most proud of the successes and accomplishments of my students. It is inspiring to see where life leads them, and I am blessed to be part of their journey. Alumni are engaged in professions ranging from doctors to youth pastors, and from lawyers to teachers.”
His personal and professional goals are intertwined: “To keep inspiring the next generation of musicians and music appreciators. For me, it is important to consider the question: ‘Where can I make the biggest impact?’ All of my life choices come back to this question.”