Matthew Keating
As a musician and performer, I strive to collaborate with composers, artists and other musicians to expand my own understanding of music as well as to find unique and creative ways to express these ideas to others.
As a teacher, it is my goal to share my knowledge and love of music with students and create a positive environment that fosters a lasting appreciation of music.
After deciding to continue music as a career, I began my studies at California State University Northridge. There I continued cello under the instruction of David Aks, Diane Roscetti, and studies with Arnold Belnick privately. Throughout school and after I had the opportunity to begin performance in orchestral, chamber, solo, contemporary, jazz and rock mediums. As a result I have had the honor of being a member of many ensembles in the area including the Debut Symphony Orchestra, the American Youth Symphony, the CSUN Honors String Quartet, the CSUN Symphony Orchestra, and many other organizations. Orchestral performances have included concerts at Walt Disney Hall, Royce Hall, and other venues under the direction of prestigious conductors such as Joana Carneiro, Alexander Treger, and Michael Tilson Thomas. Other venues have included the House of Blues and the Bel Air Hotel.
These endeavors allowed me to pursue an educational opportunity in Germany. I recently returned from a year at the Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen. There I studied cello under the direction Sadao Harada, and conducting under the direction of Manfred Schreier. Performances in Germany included Orchestra, Chamber and solo concerts in Stuttgart, Horb, Tübingen, Aldingen, Ravensburg, Trossingen, and other cities.
While continuing to perform in Los Angeles, I have also had the wonderful privilege of being part of the faculty at Our Lady of Grace School. As music director there I direct the chorus and teach music to grades Pre-5 though 8. With the generous support of the faculty, community and students, the school has now founded an instrumental violin class. Starting in February of 2008 all students in the school were able to begin playing the violin during every music class. Having the opportunity to become part of an instrumental community brought new creativity and experiences to the school that had not previously been available. Only having twenty violins and cooperating with some classes nearing forty students, the violins were kept only for use during class time. By pairing up two students per violin, a strong sense of teamwork and healthy competition developed. In order to be successful, students had to work incredibly hard as well as together in order to develop the necessary techniques required for violin performance. Through this newfound joy of instrumental performance and the strength and commitment of the faculty, the violin program at Our Lady of Grace has flourished beyond my hopes and has exceeded expectations.
In addition I maintain a private cello teaching studio, give regular orchestral coaching sessions, and have had the good fortune to record a few CDs and films. Various available recordings include “The Hurt Inside,” the String Quartet Tribute to Korn, and Waking Ashland’s CD “I am for You.” The most recent film I was part of was scored by the latest Turner Classic Movie 2007 Film Composer Competition winner, James Schafer -- “Beau Brummel”