Matthew Lyons
Composer, Performer, Arranger
matthewlyonsguitar@gmail.com
Education:
-DMA Music Composition at The University of Texas at Austin. Studied with Yevgeniy Sharlat and Annie Gosfield.
-MM Music Composition, UT Austin, 2018. Studied with Russell Pinkston and Donald Grantham.
BM Classical Guitar Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Studied with Sergio Assad and David Tanenbaum.
Notable Performances of Works:
2019
-“Skyspace”, commissioned by Austin Classical Guitar, performed in the James Turrell installation skyspace “The Color Inside” on November 24th.
–From the Butler School Radio Broadcast on local Austin station 89.5 KMFA, May 13. New Music Ensemble performing “Guitar Concerto”. Soloist: Stephen Krishnan.
-“Delayed Gratification” and “Cymbalism” presented with accompanying choreography and visual media through Evolution concert series. UT Payne Theater, May 9 and 10.
-“Guitar Concerto” premiered by the UT New Music Ensemble on May 1. Conducted by Dan Welcher. Soloist: Stephen Krishnan.
-“Delayed Gratification” for guitar and live electronics premiered by Matthew Lyons in Clutch New Music recital series, February 12.
2018
-“Cymbalism” for fixed media premiered through Electroacoustic Recital Series (EARS) in the UT Payne Theater, October 20.
-“Loss” for String Quartet performed through local series Density 512, June 17.
-“Stream of Consciousness” premiered through Ears, Eyes, and Feet recital series, multimedia collaboration with dance and visual arts departments. May 4.
2017
-Fixed media piece “Cassini’s Last Moments” presented on Electroacoustic Recital Series (EARS) in McCullough Theater, UT Austin, November 20.
-“Countdown Variations” premiered by MODUS saxophone Quartet on Clutch New Works Recital series in Bates Recital Hall at UT Austin, November 13.
-Master’s Recital at University of Texas at Austin, November 12.
-Premiere of electronically-produced “War Dance”, third act of “105”, a post-apocalyptic play featured in the Cohen New Works Festival, April 10-14.
-First movement of “Loss” for String Quartet presented on Clutch New Works recital series at UT Austin, April 4.
2016
-Accepted into Graduate Composition program at UT Austin, January.
2015
-Arrangements of “Sing” (Gary Barlow), “Shenandoah” (trad.), and “That Lonesome Road” (James Taylor) for Conspirare Children’s Choir and the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra performed at Bass Concert Hall, as part of concert featuring Nico Muhly’s “How Little You Are”. Broadcast locally on 89.5 KMFA.
-Composer for “Rainbow Connection”, children’s play with incidental musical score (live chamber ensemble), featured on Cohen New Works Festival.
Performance Experience
-John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, “The Conservatory Project”, February 2013. Solo and duo performance.
-Festival de Sole “Featured Young Artist” performance, Jarvis Conseravotry in Napa Valley, 2011. Solo guitar recital featuring original compositions and arrangements.
-San Francisco Conservatory of Music GALA honoring guitarist Pepe Romero, 2011. Featured student soloist.
Awards/Scholarships
-UT Austin Graduate School Dissertation Writing Fellowship, Spring 2021.
-Teaching Assistantship at University of Texas at Austin, September 2018 to present.
-Prize-winner, Seconda Prattica International Arrangement Competition, 2014, Buffalo, NY. Submitted arrangement: “Here, There, and Everywhere”, by Paul McCartney, for solo guitar.
-Selected “Bouchaine Young Artist”, Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, 2011.
-Lorna and Dennis Meyere Merit Scholarship, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 2010-2014.
-Semi-finalist in Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Concert Artist Competition, 2010, Austin TX.
-Second place in GFA International Youth Competition, 2009, Ithaca NY.
-First place in Classical Minds Solo Guitar Competition, Youth Division, 2009, Houston TX.
-Fourth place in Dallas International Guitar Competition, 2009.
Teaching Experience
-Beginning Composition course at UT Austin, Fall 2018 to Fall 2020.
-Ear-Training course at UT Austin, Fall 2020.
-Private music instructor, Northwest School of Music in Austin, TX, September 2015 to present.
-Private music instructor, December 2014-present and July 2008-July 2010.
-Private guitar instructor, KIPP Bay Academy, San Francisco, CA, September 2013-May 2014.