Matthew Payne

Featured, both as an educator and singer by The Today Show and Boston Globe, Matthew teaches the Bel Canto vocal method, with an emphasis on easy and beautiful singing. Matthew Payne recently graduated from Oberlin Conservatory and College with a double degree in Vocal Performance and Biology. In fall 2020, Matthew will start his residency at the Maryland Opera Studio and work to complete his Masters in Opera Performance as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Maryland. This past summer, Matthew performed at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center as a Baritone Fellow. There, he was trained by Grammy award-winning, Dawn Upshaw and Renee Fleming, as well as many other celebrated musicians. Matthew was also previously invited to the Chautauqua Voice Institute, where he trained with teachers from Juilliard, Curtis, Broadway, and the Metropolitan Opera.

Hailed as an “outstanding soloist” by Cleveland Classical, Matthew has performed at some of the world's leading venues and with companies such as the Cleveland Opera, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Oberlin Conservatory Orchestra, Opera Neo, Society for New Music, and Syracuse Ballet. Matthew has also held a position as a private voice teacher for secondary lessons at Oberlin Conservatory and spent months shadowing voice technicians at the illustrious Cleveland Clinic Voice Center.

Matthew teaches all ages and genres ranging from Pop to Jazz to Opera, utilizing one foundational technique: Bel Canto. He emphasizes easy, beautiful and powerful singing as the path to creating a truly spectacular voice. As someone who trusts and embodies the importance of practice, patience, and perseverance, Matthew is a vocal coach who gives each student the tools to effectively perform and sing in whichever capacity they desire. From karaoke to the stages of the world, Matthew cannot wait to engage with and inspire his future students.