Mathieu Girardet

Mathieu Girardet serves as Director of the Instrumental Music Area at Irvine Valley College. A native of Montpellier, France, Mathieu is a versatile musician with experience as an educator, clarinetist, composer and arranger.

On the podium, Mathieu has built a presence across Orange County through his work as conductor of the Irvine Valley College Wind Symphony, Chapman University Wind Symphony, and previously the Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble at the Orange County School of the Arts. He was the 2023 recipient of the Shaun Naidoo Legacy Award, a distinction chosen by the student body at Chapman University to honor a faculty member who has made a substantial impact on the students and Conservatory of Music. Off the podium, Mathieu has taught a variety of courses in music history, clarinet pedagogy, chamber music and more. He can be heard regularly playing bass clarinet with the award-winning Syrinx Quintet, a chamber ensemble made up of local professional reed players.

Mathieu holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Instrumental Music Education and Instrumental Performance from California State University, Long Beach and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of Michigan. As a graduate fellow at Michigan, he performed with the University Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band and Instrumental Conducting Seminar. His clarinet quintet was awarded second prize at University of Michigan’s Briggs Chamber Music Competition, performing a series of his arrangements.

A passionate advocate for music education, Mathieu is a frequent clinician, adjudicator, and guest artist throughout Southern California. He is an active member of the Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), California Band Directors Association (CBDA), Music Association of California Community Colleges (MACCC), and College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA).