Young British Bass Matthew Waldren was born in Geneva in 1977. He is now based in London, England. He began singing at an early age and was selected to compete in the final of BET choir boy of the year final in 1989. Soon after, he successfully auditioned at the Royal College of Music junior department, where he was one of a minority of students who was allowed to study three instruments to a high level – the piano, flute, and the voice.

In 1995 Matthew accepted an offer to read music at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and also took up a choral scholarship with Jesus College choirs. He ran the college music society and directed a professional barbershop and chamber choir.

By 1996 Matthew had performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, and for the British Ambassador to the Holy See. During that year he also performed for HRH Prince Edward as a soloist in a world premiere of Francis Grier’s Cantata and also for HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

At this time Matthew was asked to record as a soloist on Jesus College’s album A Celebration of Music for Lammas Records. Subsequently, he was offered a place on a specially-devised post-graduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he was sponsored by the Stanley Picker Trust and the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards. During his time at the Guildhall he worked as a quartet and choral singer for William Christie’s Les Arts Florissants and the International Festival of Ambronnay.

Matthew is currently a Thames Valley Young Artist and has been establishing a reputation as a fine young recitalist, with a critically-acclaimed recital tour of Wales in 2003, and recitals at Blackburn Cathedral and for the Lenthall Concert Series. He also appeared with Floreat Sonus at the Cheltenham International Festival.

Matthew’s stage work has seen him performing for Grange Park Opera, Opera Holland Park, Carl Rosa Opera, the G & S Opera Company and Raymond Gubbay. He took the role of Bob in Tim West’s production of HMS Pinafore for Carl Rosa Opera’s tour of the UK and Ireland. In the same production in Australia and New Zealand he was engaged as Principal Bass Understudy. For Opera Holland Park he covered Sciarrone (Tosca) and Der Zweiter Gefängner (Fidelio). In 2005 he will understudy Masetto (Don Giovanni) for Grange Park Opera.

Matthew also works as a freelance teacher and coach.