Matthew Payne

Matthew Payne, English-American baritone, will complete his Master of Music degree at the prestigious Maryland Opera Studio (University of Maryland) in May 2022. Mr. Payne has also received bachelor’s degrees in vocal performance and in biology from Oberlin Conservatory and College. Last summer, he was a young artist at Central City Opera, where he covered the role of Marullo and Count Monterone (Rigoletto). During the 2021/22 season Mr. Payne recently played the role of Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) at the Maryland Opera Studio, premiered the role of Aaron in Nailah Nombeko’s new opera Sunder (Annapolis Opera and Maryland Opera Studio), and in the spring will portray Joe Harland in John Musto’s Later the Same Evening (Maryland Opera Studio). In 2019, Mr. Payne performed as a baritone fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. While there, he participated in a masterclass with Renée Fleming (broadcast on The Today Show), performed Othmar Schoeck’s Notturno with the New Fromm Players, and sang Schlendrian in Bach’s Coffee Cantata with conductors John Harbison and Killian Farrell. 

Mr. Payne has also been an artist at the Chautauqua Institute (2018), where he studied with the esteemed Marlena Malas. Mr. Payne’s previous roles include: Roberto (cover) (La finta giardiniera), Billy Bigelow (Carousel), Mr. Gobineau (The Medium), Charlie (Three Decembers), Executor in John Kander’s workshopped production of The Enchanted, Victor in (Cabaret), Lysander in Purcell’s Fairy Queen (Opera Neo), and Massetto (cover) (Don Giovanni). As a soloist, Mr. Payne has performed in concerts with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, the Oberlin Conservatory Orchestra, the Society for New Music, Bel Cantanti Opera Company, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Central City Opera, and with the French Embassy. He has also been a finalist in the Sigma Alpha Iota Competition and a semi-finalist in the Orpheus Vocal Competition.