Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith received his bachelor's degree in Contemporary Art from Nottingham Trent University in 1995. He studied classical music in the U.S. and earned a master's degree in vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 1997. He took his first professional steps in Milwaukee with the Skylight Opera.

After returning to his native England, Matt performed in London's West End with a musical adaptation of Tess of d'Urbervilles, followed by a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, playing several leading roles. He continued his choral training in 2001 with a year at Hampton Court Palace under Carl Jackson. From 2002 to 2006, Matt performed regularly in the U.S., in Europe and on the British opera and church music circuits. He was understudy and performed roles with such companies as London City Opera, Grange Park, Holland Park, Garsington, Surrey Opera, Buxton Gilbert & Sullivan, Carl Rosa and in Salzburg Easter Festival. For several years he sang regularly with the Three Waiters Company and performed throughout Europe.

In 2006 he moved to the Netherlands where he started at the Nationale Reisopera. Soon after, he was hired as a full-time tenor with the Groot Omroepkoor.

Matt has also worked with other choirs and opera companies in recent years, including Cappella Amsterdam, the Laurens Collegium and in the United Kingdom with Longborough Opera and Opera Project. Since 2016, Matt has been performing regularly with Olga Vocal Ensemble, a Dutch-Icelandic a cappella group. He is also active throughout the year in the Netherlands as a solo tenor. Matt is currently coached by Dutch singing teacher Marjan Kuiper.