Matthew Brown

Voice Part: Tenor

Season you joined the Chorale: 2009-2010

Birthplace: Bakersfield, CA

Education/Vocal Training: DMA and MM in Music Composition (USC Thornton School of Music); BA in Music Theory/Composition (Pepperdine University); studied voice with Jonathan Mack

Do you make your living as a musician? Yes

If so, where else do you gig/teach/conduct/sing/perform? I'm a freelance composer and arranger, and one may listen to some of my work on my website, www.mattbrowncomposer.com. I have an SATB setting of A Red, Red Rose available from Santa Barbara Music, and I'm honored to have a piece coming out soon on Dale Warland's series with G. Schirmer. I'm also the Contemporary Music Director at Northridge United Methodist, I sing all around L.A., and I teach privately.

Where else do you sing NOW I sing at Temple Israel of Hollywood, St. James Catholic Church in Redondo Beach, St. Stephen's Lutheran in Granada Hills, and many other places.

Recent solo roles or guest appearances:I had a lot of solo work as a member of a great octet at a recent Cappella concert of English Tudor music, directed by Peter Rutenberg.

Recordings/TV/Film: I did some back-up singing for two tracks on Kimberly Locke's (of American Idol fame) album Christmas.

Highlights of your musical career: My upcoming VocalEssence Essentially Choral Commission; a 2008 premiere of one of my works by the Young New Yorkers' Chorus; winner of the 2007 VocalEssence Welcome Christmas Carol Contest.

Favorite choral work: I could never pick just one, but the Martin Mass for Double Chorus, MacMillan's A Child's Prayer, Dinerstein's When David Heard, Tavener's Song for Athene, and even Barber's Agnus Dei rank highly on my list because of the overwhelming emotional effect they have on me each time I listen/sing them. Also, anything and everything by Bach, Monteverdi, Byrd, and Perotin.

A defining moment or favorite onstage experience: Here are TWO: Performing Bach's Singet dem Herrn with William Dehning and the USC Chamber Choir at Disney Hall as part of the ACDA national convention in 2005; performing with that same choir to a full house at the Taipei National Concert Hall in 2006.

What are you listening to these days? James MacMillan, Thomas Adès, The Bird and the Bee, and Maria Taylor. I also have a great affinity for '80s pop/rock and Classic Rock.

Anything you’d like to add about yourself? I love camping, hiking, and puns, and I'm honored to be singing with the LAMC!