Christopher Matthews

Christopher Matthews holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from Eastern Washington University, and a Master of Music degree in Composition from Butler University. He has studied choral composition with James Q. Mulholland, instrumental composition with Michael Schelle, and electronic music with Frank Felice. His choral works have been performed in Europe, Australia, and throughout the United States. The 16 choral works published through Colla Voce Music have been presented at numerous state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association as well as state Music Educators Association conventions. His setting of William Blake’s poem The Lamb was premiered at the Southern ACDA Convention in 2004 by the Bak Middle School Chorale and has since been included in the Korean Holy Hymnal No. 6 to be distributed throughout the United States and South Korea. In 2006, his arrangement of the traditional Japanese folk song Sakura, Sakura was added to the Texas University Inter-scholastic prescribed music list. For two years in a row, the Shenandoah Conservatory Performing Arts Camp Choir under the direction of Belmont University’s Deen E. Entsminger has premiered his newest choral works. In 2006 the group premiered his setting of the popular spiritual This Little Light of Mine, and in 2007 they premiered his arrangement of the John Dowland song Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now Invite. In April 2008, the Metropolis Youth Symphony (Arlington Heights, IL) under the direction of Maestro Javier José Mendoza, premiered his orchestral work entitled Adagio et Moderato.  From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Matthews served as Music Director for the Indianapolis-based, Emmy Award nominated improv comedy troupe INDYPROV.  In 2012, the Belmont University Chamber singers premiered his setting of John Donne's poem Death Be Not Proud.  In 2014 his setting of The Arrow and the Song was added to the Texas University Inter-scholastic prescribed music list.