Carrie-Ann Matheson

Carrie-Ann Matheson is a Canadian pianist, conductor and vocal coach, and the incoming Artistic Director of the San Francisco Opera Center. 
Matheson was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and began studying the piano at the age of 7. In addition to her piano studies, she also studied the flute. 
At the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, she completed her Bachelor of Music Education with piano as her instrument.She then traveled to the United States where she obtained her Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from the Cleveland Institute of Music, followed by a Professional Studies Diploma in Vocal Accompanying from the Manhattan School of Music.
Her piano teachers have included Dr. Frances Gray (University of Prince Edward Island), Jon Kimura Parker (Banff Centre), Marek Jablonski (Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto), Dorothy Morton (McGill University), Richard Boulanger (University of Moncton), Robin Wood (University of Victoria), Anne Epperson (Cleveland Institute of Music), and Warren Jones (Manhattan School of Music). 
Following the completion of her studies, Matheson was admitted to the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. After two years as a young artist, Matheson was promoted to the position of Staff Coach of the Lindemann Program, a position that was created specifically for her. In addition to her duties with the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, she also worked part time as an assistant conductor on the Metropolitan's music staff. In 2006, she was further promoted within the Metropolitan Opera, joining the Met’s full-time, regular music staff as a pianist, prompter, and vocal coach.
In 2014, she was invited by Maestro Fabio Luisi to join the staff at pernhaus Zürich, where she made her conducting debut in 2015 and remained on the conducting roster until 2020. Other companies with which Matheson has an association include the Salzburger Festspiele, Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, and the Los Angeles Opera.
Matheson regularly performs as a recital pianist and has performed with artists such as Rolando Villazòn, Joyce DiDonato, Jonas Kaufmann, Piotr Beczala, Benjamin Bernheim, Lawrence Brownlee, Diana Damrau, Thomas Hampson, Luca Pisaroni, Barbara Bonney, Ruth Ann Swenson, Susan Graham, Sabine Devieilhe, and Marilyn Horne. 
In 2020, she performed in several broadcasted concerts, including a concert with Benjamin Bernheim for the Deutsche Grammophon's new streaming platform, Deutsche Grammophon Stage, a concert with Benjamin Bernheim at the Fondation Singer-Polignac broadcast on Medici TV , and a concert with Joyce DiDonato for the Metropolitan Opera's concert series.
As a vocal coach, Matheson has a particular interest in working with emerging professional singers and pianists. In addition to her years on the staff of the Metropolitan Opera’s young artist program, she has worked with the Ryan Opera Center (Lyric Opera of Chicago),https://www.verbierfestival.com/en/musician/matheson-carrie-ann/ the International Opera Studio (Opernhaus Zürich),https://www.opernhaus.ch/en/spielplan/calendar/galakonzert_des_internationalen_opernstudios/season_11232/ the Music Academy of the West,https://www.pcmsconcerts.org/artist/carrie-ann-matheson-piano/ the International Vocal Arts Institute,http://www.ivai.org/pr.htm and the Atkins Young Artist Program (Mariinsky Theatre). 
In January 2020, she will become the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Opera Center. 
*Alumni Achievement awards from the University of Prince Edward Island and the Cleveland Institute of Musichttps://www.upei.ca/communications/news/2011/03/upei-presents-2011-distinguished-alumni-awards-march-27
*First Place Piano Winner at the 1995 Federation of Canadian Music Festivals National Music Festival
In Allan Kozinn’s The New York Times review of Marilyn Horne’s 66th birthday celebration in 2000, Kozinn includes Matheson in his list of accomplished vocal accompanists, among Martin Katz, Warren, Jones, Brian Zegar, and Brian Farell. 
In 2007, Matheson accompanied young soprano Nadine Sierra’s recital at St. Stephen’s Church. The New York Times, covering the performance, said “...Matheson provided stylish, insightful playing that was admirable in its own right.” 
After she accompanied Mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes’ 2015 John F. Kennedy Center concert, The Washington Post, commenting on the performance of Debussy’s “Chansons de Bilitis," said, “Carrie-Ann Matheson of the Metropolitan Opera musical staff, likewise gave voice to the Greek boy’s flute, the song of the green frogs and the climax of the boy’s dream.” 
Her teaching skills were highlighted in The New York Times Magazine’s 2011 feature on the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. 
In a review of Joyce DiDonato’s 2020 digital recital accompanied by Matheson, Jay Nordlinger of The New Criterion said this: “Matheson has an exceptional ability to play limpidly. And to play lyrically. In singerly fashion, if you like. This is a great gift for any pianist, whether she is accompanying singers or not.”
Category:Canadian pianists
Category:Canadian conductors (music)
Category:Canadian musicians