THE NEXT GENERATION

MATT CONNER

Matt Conner has been performing, composing, teaching, and music directing in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for the last eleven years. Mr. Conner's world premiere musical, Nevermore, was produced at Signature Theatre in 2006 (directed by Eric Schaeffer with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick). He recently wrote the book/lyrics/music to A Carol Christmas for the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC, produced December 2007, as well as a new commissioned work for Signature Theatre entitled Crossing, which had it's first reading in October 2007. Among Mr. Conner's stage credits are: Aurelio/Ensemble in Kiss of the Spider Woman, Scotty in Merrily We Roll Along, Toby in Witches of Eastwick, Steward in Into the Woods, John Hinckley in Assassins, Tamate in Pacific Overtures (all for Signature Theatre); Riff in West Side Story (Olney Theatre Center); and The Page of Herodias in Oscar Wilde's Salome (Synetic Theatre). Mr. Conner received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and has Music Directed numerous shows including Brigadoon, Grease, Crazy for You, Shenandoah,and his original score, A Christmas Carol. Mr. Conner is currently writing Senior Moments/Silver, a Signature Theatre commissioned musical still in the pre-workshop phase, and Partial Eclispe, a world premier song cycle to be produced at Signature Theatre in June 2009. Mr. Conner is also working on a children's show called The King of Pizza, about diversity and working together, which will be produced in the fall of 2008. Mr. Conner is a proud voice on the Grammy Award®-winning recording of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, a teaching artist with Creative Cauldron, Inc., and a member of the Actors Equity Association. For more information on Matt Conner, visit www.mattconner.org.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Q. What was the first thing you did after you learned you'd been given this American Musical Voices Project: Next Generation grant?
A. I immediately contacted Eric Schaeffer so I could get in touch with Ted and Mary Jo Shen to thank them and let them know how deeply honored I am.

Q. Do you have any specific plans for your composition?
A. My specific plan right now is to work on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Q. Are there any performers you are longing to work with?
A. I would love to work with Hunter Foster. We of course worked together as actors in Signature's Kiss of the Spiderwoman, but I would love to collaborate with him as a writer.

Q. How did your musical journey begin? When did you first begin playing music? Composing?
A. My musical journey began in church. A church filled with constant music. I studied piano for eight months at the age of eight and joined a gospel group later in my teens. My composing and improvisation began here, always just "filling" in the music at church and creating songs.

Q. Do you have formal music training?
A. I hold a BFA in Music Theatre from Shenandoah University and Conservatory with a minor in piano.

Q. Who are your biggest music inspirations?
A. My biggest music inspirations are Phillip Glass, Danny Elfman, and St. Etienne.

Q. Who's on your iPod?
A. I do not own an iPod. Maybe I should get one. I hear they're all the rage.

Q. What current artist, besides yourself, of course, are you most excited about? Why?
A. The obvious, of course, is my possible collaboration with Mr. Washington Irving.

Q. What's next for you? Any projects, beyond this commission, that you are working on currently?
A. I'm currently working on a Song Cycle entitled Partial Eclipse for Signature Theatre in June 2009, Kaleidoscope, which is a journey into Alzheimer's, Senior Moments, a commissioned piece for Signature Theatre, The King of Pizza, a children's show celebrating diversity and working together, and Crossing, which just finished its workshop phase at Signature Theatre.