About Matthew
Matthew Welsh is a solo and collaborative artist equally at home in genres ranging from Golden age ballad to video game music. Hailed as a “mindreader” by Broadway’s Rob Meffe, Matt has played conventional and unconventional classical voice and instrumental recitals, musical theatre auditions and dance classes, intimate cabarets, cocktail piano, cruise resorts, in a glacial river canyon, at a summer camp, under a tent at the beach, on a 31-key toy piano in a church basement, and the 1906 earthquake-ruined remains of Jack London’s Winery.
MD/PIANIST
Matt proudly holds an M.M. in Orchestral Conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, where he was a Graduate Assistant for the Musical Theatre department, for which he played collaborative piano and coached all levels of undergraduate voice lessons, studio recitals, vocal coaching classes, as well as mainstage and student-led theatre productions. Welsh’s work on a production In The Heights earned him the BroadwayWorld Atlanta Regional Music Direction award.
Matt has trained under and collaborated on performances with music directors including Roger Grodsky, Rob Meffe, Sue Draus, Jason Debord, Julie Spangler, Alejandro Senior, Matt Smart, John-Michael D’Havilland, Steve Goers, Ian Axness, and Judy Cole.
Welsh has pianistically supported productions directed/choreographed by Baayork Lee, Linda Goodrich, Hannah Ryan, Diane Lala, Brandt Blocker, Sue Draus, Vince DeGeorge, Kevin Harry, David Rosetti, Meg Gillentine, Courtenay Collins, Alaina Mills, Eric Bryd, Brandon Kelly, Amanda W. Morgan, and Billy & Kristine Tighe. Matt has additionally lent musical expertise to coachings sessions proctored by K.O., Ben Bryant, Priscilla Bagley, Mitchell Piper, Ian Axness, Tori Wiggins
VOICE
Matt’s voice has been compared to a warm latte, as well as to a… dusty viola. As a baritone, this assessment tracks. A voice student of Todd Wedge (Chanticleer) and Nicholas Kelliher (CCM), Matt has received received several awards in the National Association For Teachers of Singing Competition in MT and Classical voice. A chorister and stage performer for nearly two decades, Matt has brought emotionally rich and musically complete vocal solos to life in works such as Bach Cantata 150, Nelson Mass, Carmina Burana, Mozart Requiem, Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, Mozart Vespers, Fauré Requeim and many more. His operatic and art song performances include Songs of Travel, A Hand of Bridge, Candide, Le Nozze di Figaro, Giulio Cesare, Cosi Fan Tutte, Serse, Dido and Anaeas, and The Three Hermits. ACDA/GMEA/NATS.
As a child performer, Welsh trained intensively in Suzuki, Meisner, and Fitzmaurice techniques, caroled in Governor’s mansions, wrote and rehearsed choral arrangements, and accompanied solo MT and Classical performances. Matt was honored to perform as “Elder Cunningham” for Casey Nicholaw alongside Carolee Carmello, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, and Sarah Charles Lewis at the Tuck Everlasting premiere in 2015 as well as Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque” as a soloist under Ethan Sperry’s baton.
Matt has participated in masterclasses with luminaries Stephanie Blythe, Jay Hunter Morris, Jennifer Larmore, Mitchell Piper, Julianne Baird, and Leah Partridge. Memorable performances include singing Italian arias for locals in a mountain village piazza and caroling in the mud and rain at a berry farm in Georgia.
OVERVIEW
Matthew derives joy from inspiring people through the transformative power of music. His ability to adapt, synthesize precise and creative work, and maintain composure in stressful situations underscores professionalism and dedication to his craft. Whether enchanting audiences with solo piano musings or seamlessly blending old and new concepts, Matthew navigates the corners of the world with unwavering passion to tenacious music-making.
Outside of the theatre, Matt is an avid roller skater, insect lover, and forager. After climbing up a mountain barefoot, Matt has been compared to “a goat” and was told he “must have tough feet.” All the better to walk with!