Stearns Matthews
{{short description|American musician (born 1984)}}
{{Cleanup-PR|date=April 2021}}{{notability|Bio|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Stearns Matthews
| birth_name = Paul Stearns Matthews
| birth_date = {{bya|1984}}
| birth_place = Hartford, Connecticut
| education = Bachelor of Music in Music Theater, Westminster Choir College
| boards = Manhattan Association of Cabarets
| occupation = Singer, recording artist, director, teacher, pianist
| spouse = Michael Hetrick (2007-present)
| website = {{url|http://www.stearnsmatthews.com}}
| module = {{infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| genre = Pop standards, showtunes
}}
}}
Stearns Matthews (born 1984) 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.
Training
As a teenager, Matthews was a voice student of Linda Benanti (mother of Laura Benanti).Personal recollection of a schoolmate 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stearnsmatthews.com/bio/|title=Bio|website=Stearns Matthews|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-18}}
Career
{{Primary sources section|date=April 2021}}
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,{{Cite web|url=https://nitelifeexchange.com/stearns-matthews-performs-at-the-laurie-beechman-theatre-on-february-17-march-13th-and-april-4th/|title=Stearns Matthews Performs at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on February 17, March 13th and April 4th|last=Exchange|first=NiteLife|date=2018-02-11|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Stearns-Matthews-Continues-RESIDENCY-At-Laurie-Beechman-Theatre-With-GOLDEN-TICKET-20180209|title=Stearns Matthews Continues #RESIDENCY At Laurie Beechman Theatre With GOLDEN TICKET|author=BWW News Desk|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}} Metropolitan Room, Feinstein's/54 Below,{{Cite web|url=https://54below.com/artists/stearns-matthews-2/|title=Stearns Matthews|website=Feinstein's/54 Below|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-01}} Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Town Hall.
He won two Manhattan Association of Cabaret 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).{{Cite news|url=http://macnyc.com/mac-awards/past-years/|title=Past Years - Manhattan Association of Cabarets|work=Manhattan Association of Cabarets|access-date=2017-12-18|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/2018-MAC-Award-Nominees-Announced-20180226|title=2018 MAC Award Nominees Announced|author=BWW News Desk|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-01}}
His debut album, Spark, also won the 2015 Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording.{{Cite web|url=http://bistroawards.com/hall-of-fame/|title=2016-1985 Recipients : Bistro Awards|website=bistroawards.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-18}}
He has directed musicals in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stearnsmatthews.com/director/|title=DIRECTOR|website=Stearns Matthews|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-18}} He also maintains a private vocal studio, with students ranging from beginners to experienced professionals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stearnsmatthews.com/teacher/|title=Teacher|website=Stearns Matthews|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-18}}
Matthews is an active Unitarian Universalist musician, serving as Director of Music Ministries at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (MUUF) in Morristown, NJ.{{Cite web|title=Our Staff|url=http://muuf.org/our-staff/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214232207/https://muuf.org/our-staff/|archive-date=2019-02-14|access-date=2018-06-25|website=muuf.org|language=en-US}} Previously, he has served as Assistant Music Director at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uumontclair.org/on-that-note/2013/12/note-january-2014/|title=On That Note... - January 2014|date=2013-12-27|website=The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-01}} He also teaches musical theatre students at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.{{Cite web|title=pamatthews {{!}} University of the Arts|url=https://www.uarts.edu/staff-directory/pamatthews|access-date=2021-04-13|website=www.uarts.edu}}
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.{{Citation|title=SPARK|url=https://www.stearnsmatthews.com/music/|language=en-US|accessdate=2017-12-18}}
- December Songs (2017){{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/first-male-recording-of-maury-yestons-december-songs-gets-digital-release|title=First Male Recording of Maury Yeston's December Songs Gets Digital Release {{!}} Playbill|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2017-12-29}} 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.{{Citation|title=DECEMBER SONGS|url=https://www.stearnsmatthews.com/december-songs/|language=en-US|accessdate=2017-12-18}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Stearns-Matthews-Releases-First-Male-Recording-of-Maury-Yestons-DECEMBER-SONGS-20171120|title=Stearns Matthews Releases First Male Recording of Maury Yeston's DECEMBER SONGS|author=BWW News Desk|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2017-12-29|language=en}}
Personal life
Matthews was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His family moved in 1997 to Kinnelon, New Jersey, where he graduated from Kinnelon High School.[https://patch.com/new-jersey/triboro/30th-annual-olm-christmas-concert "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." 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.{{Cite news|url=http://macnyc.com/about/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors - Manhattan Association of Cabarets|work=Manhattan Association of Cabarets|access-date=2017-12-18|language=en-US}} 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 ==
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.stearnsmatthews.com/ Stearns Matthews official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews, Stearns}}
Category:American cabaret performers
Category:American male pianists
Category:American musical theatre directors
Category:Kinnelon High School alumni
Category:Musicians from Morris County, New Jersey
Category:People from Kinnelon, New Jersey
Category:American Unitarian Universalists
Category:Westminster Choir College alumni