First and Last Name
Matthew Brown
Degree Program and Anticipated Graduation Year (if applicable)
M.M. Composition, Stage Music Emphasis
Why did you choose to attend the Rome School?
The Stage Music Composition program is the only program of its kind, and the chance to create an opera from the ground up and have it premiered here at Catholic U was such an exciting opportunity. I was also offered a Teaching Assistantship, which allowed me to build upon my passion for teaching music theory.
What is one of your favorite memories at Catholic U?
Being honored with a Gilbie Award for the music I wrote for Catholic U's production of Hamlet! Composing for this production was quite the challenge, given that I was attending Catholic U remotely at that point, so I would send audio samples from Texas and get videos back from the director (the fabulous Natalia Gleason-Nagy) of how they worked in the staging. We were all so proud of the final product, and getting that recognition from the Department of Drama students was such a wonderful validation of that work.
Who is your favorite composer?
I fell in love with the work of Samuel Barber when I first performed his 3 Songs (Op. 45) during my undergraduate studies at Pomona College, and he remains an important influence in my approach to vocal writing. Dr. Andrew Simpson, my composition teacher here at Catholic U, once compared the style of a song of mine to that of Barber, which I consider a complement of the highest order!
Has there been a moment, event, or person that has had a transformative impact on your life here at Catholic U? Please share your story.
This year I was selected to be the Composer-in-Residence with the Catholic U Symphony Orchestra. As I attended rehearsals for the February concert, there was a moment when I stopped taking notes and just listened to the orchestra perform my piece, BE/COME. I remember closing my eyes and thinking "wow, this ensemble is playing MY music. I wrote that." It was a moment of profound gratitude that I'll remember for a long time.
What are some of your goals for the future?
Getting a terminal degree in Music Composition is definitely in the cards, though my immediate first step will be applying to fellowships in opera composition and seeing where that takes me!
Favorite study spot on campus?
I love the central courtyard of Ward. That's actually where I began composing BE/COME!