A Little Bit ABout me
Matthew Umphreys is a Cincinnati-based musician who loves working with great singers, regardless of genre. He has worked around the country as a pianist, coach, arranger and music director with organizations such as a Cincinnati Opera, Playhouse in the Park, The Carnegie Theater, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Song Initiative, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, the American Traditions Competition, the Skivvies, and Celtic Woman. Most recently, Matthew served as music director and co-arranger for the world premiere of 'Mrs. Dalloway: A New Musical' at Cincinnati Shakespeare.
From 2014-2019, Matthew performed as a pianist and founding member of the contemporary music ensemble All of the Above. The ensemble primarily performed music by living classical composers and commissioned/premiered dozens of new works. All of the Above made its international debut in 2017 at the Cortona Sessions for New Music in Cortona, Italy, and performed at Carnegie Hall later that same year as a part of the New York New Fusion Music Festival. Their debut album 'Double Portrait' was released in 2020.
In 2018, Matthew founded Queen City Cabaret, a Cincinnati-based arts organization and musical duo that brings captivating performances of vintage jazz and pop to venues across the midwest and beyond. QCC celebrates the beloved songs and stories of 20th century American commercial music with intimate cabarets, large-scale concerts, and everything in between. In 2023 QCC became a resident company at The Carnegie theater in Covington, KY. Check out more of QCC here: www.queencitycabaretcincy.com
Matthew currently serves as Director of Music at Columbia Baptist and Linwood Baptist churches in Cincinnati and he is a sought-after collaborator for recordings and recitals. He holds degrees from Luther College and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In his free time (lol), Matthew enjoys riding roller coasters, practicing yoga, baking muffins, watching RuPaul's Drag Race, and watering his many houseplants.