Stearns Matthews

Stearns Matthews is an American, New York-based cabaret singer, recording artist, director, teacher, and pianist. He has performed throughout the United States as well as the United Kingdom.

Stearns Matthews
Born
Paul Stearns Matthews

(1984-06-23) June 23, 1984
Hartford, Connecticut
EducationBachelor of Music in Music Theater, Westminster Choir College
Board member ofManhattan Association of Cabarets
Spouse(s)Michael Hetrick (2007-present)
Musical career
GenresPop standards, showtunes
Websitewww.stearnsmatthews.com

Training

As a teenager, Matthews was a voice student of Linda Benanti (mother of Laura Benanti).[1] He completed his undergraduate studies at Westminster Choir College. During his four years there, he sang in the Westminster Symphonic Choir and in ensemble and as a soloist with the esteemed Westminster Choir at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Riverside Church, NJPAC, and Spoleto Festival USA under the batons of Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, Harry Bickett, David Robertson, and Dr. Joe Miller. He graduated from Westminster Choir College in 2008 with a BM in Music Theater.[2]

Career

Matthews made his Manhattan cabaret debut in 2008 at the historic club Don't Tell Mama. His subsequent NYC appearances have included The Duplex, The Laurie Beechman Theatre,[3][4] Metropolitan Room, Feinstein's/54 Below,[5] Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Town Hall.

He won two MAC Awards in 2015 (Best Male Vocalist and LaMott Friedman Award for Best Recording). He was a MAC Award nominee in 2009 (Best Male Debut), 2011 (Best Male Vocalist), 2013 (Best Musical Comedy Performer), 2017 (Best Male Vocalist), and 2018 (LaMott Friedman Award for Best Recording).[6][7]

His debut album, Spark, also won the 2015 Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording.[8]

He has directed musicals in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia.[9] He also maintains a private vocal studio, with students ranging from beginners to experienced professionals.[10]

In addition to his work in cabaret and musical theatre, Matthews is an active Unitarian Universalist musician, currently serving as Acting Music Director at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (MUUF) in Morristown, NJ.[11] Previously, he has also served as Assistant Music Director at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair.[12] He is also currently teaching musical theatre students at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.[13]

Albums
  • Spark (2014) Matthews' debut album, Spark, contains a mix of musical theater songs and Great American Songbook standards. Spark won the 2015 MAC Award for Best Recording as well as the 2015 Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording. It was produced by Paul Rolnick for Zevely Records, with music direction and arrangements by Christopher Denny.[14]
  • December Songs (2017)[15] In November 2017, Matthews recorded and produced the first-ever recording by a male singer of Maury Yeston's contemporary song cycle December Songs. Commissioned by Carnegie Hall for Andrea Marcovicci in 1991, many recordings existed of the piece, but none with a male singer.[16][17]

Personal life

Matthews was born in Hartford, Connecticut on June 23, 1984. His family moved in 1997 to Kinnelon, New Jersey where he graduated from Kinnelon High School.[18] He graduated from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey in 2008 with a BM in Music Theater. Matthews has served on the Board of Directors of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets since 2012.[19] He currently resides in the greater New York City area.

Awards
  • 2015 Lamott/Friedman MAC Award for Best Recording
  • 2015 MAC Award for Best Male Vocalist
  • 2015 Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording

References
  1. Personal recollection of a schoolmate
  2. "Bio". Stearns Matthews. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  3. Exchange, NiteLife (2018-02-11). "Stearns Matthews Performs at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on February 17, March 13th and April 4th". Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  4. Desk, BWW News. "Stearns Matthews Continues #RESIDENCY At Laurie Beechman Theatre With GOLDEN TICKET". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  5. "Stearns Matthews". Feinstein's/54 Below. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  6. "Past Years - Manhattan Association of Cabarets". Manhattan Association of Cabarets. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  7. Desk, BWW News. "2018 MAC Award Nominees Announced". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  8. "2016-1985 Recipients : Bistro Awards". bistroawards.com. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  9. "DIRECTOR". Stearns Matthews. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  10. "Teacher". Stearns Matthews. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  11. "Our Staff". muuf.org. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  12. "On That Note... - January 2014". The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair. 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
  13. https://www.uarts.edu/staff-directory/pamatthews
  14. SPARK, retrieved 2017-12-18
  15. "First Male Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs Gets Digital Release | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  16. DECEMBER SONGS, retrieved 2017-12-18
  17. Desk, BWW News. "Stearns Matthews Releases First Male Recording of Maury Yeston's DECEMBER SONGS". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  18. "30th Annual OLM Christmas Concert", Tri-Boro, NJ Patch, November 13, 2013. Accessed January 27, 2020. "Special Guest Artist this year is Kinnelon's own, Stearns Matthews, an accomplished cabaret artist, jazz singer and stage actor. Not only remembered for his outstanding roles in many Kinnelon High School theatrical productions and Smoke Rise Village Inn performances, Mr. Matthews is also known for standout appearances in musical productions in the North Jersey area with Allegro Productions, the Barn Theatre and Studio Players."
  19. "Board of Directors - Manhattan Association of Cabarets". Manhattan Association of Cabarets. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
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