TEACHING

For Matthew, teaching is about helping singers unlock a voice that is free, healthy, and expressive in whatever style they choose. He works with students both in person at his home studio in Washington, D.C.’s Eastern Market neighborhood and virtually. He’s taught singers across a wide range of ages and goals—from children as young as eight discovering their first solo, to senior citizens in their seventies. He enjoys adapting lessons to meet each student where they are, whether they’re preparing for professional auditions, choral work, or simply singing for enjoyment.

Areas of Specialty

  • Classical singing: opera, oratorio, and art song

  • Musical theater, pop, and commercial styles

  • Classical-to-commercial crossover techniques

  • Baroque and early music style

  • Choral singing and ensemble techniques

Teaching Philosophy

Matthew approaches every lesson with the belief that technique should serve artistic expression. His teaching emphasizes:

  • Sustainability: building habits that keep the voice reliable for a lifetime of singing.

  • Flexibility: developing tools to move confidently between genres, from Handel to Sondheim to pop.

  • Curiosity: encouraging students to explore the full spectrum of vocal colors—there are no “wrong” sounds, only choices that work better in certain contexts.

  • Clarity: equipping singers with strategies to handle everything from coloratura passages to belting.

He enjoys helping students discover how skills from one style (like finding a focused and balanced tone in classical singing or rhythmic precision in pop) can transfer to and strengthen another.

Professional Experience

In addition to his private studio, Matthew serves as the enlisted conductor and musical director of the United States Air Force Band Singing Sergeants. He has prepared the ensemble for appearances with the Boston Pops, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Washington Performing Arts, and regularly leads rehearsals.

Matthew has also presented masterclasses and clinics for organizations including The Choral Arts Society of Washington, GenOUT Youth Chorus, the University of Maryland, Towson University, Oklahoma Baptist University, the University of Oklahoma, and numerous schools throughout the National Capital Region.

Background

Matthew earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in voice from the University of Maryland, College Park, and holds additional teaching certification from the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University. His primary voice teachers include Elizabeth Daniels, Gran Wilson, and Carmen Balthrop.

Contact Matthew for rates and availability.