Matthew Mainster recently graduated with his Master of Musical Performance degree from Yale University where he studied with Thomas Murray.  In 2008, he graduated with bachelor degrees in organ and piano performance from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania where he studied with Dr. Shelly Moorman-Stahlman.  During his undergraduate career, Matthew served as organist at The United Methodist Church of the Good Shepherd in Lebanon, PA.  Prior to college, he studied with Kathie Metz of Towson, Maryland and served as Director of Music at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland. 

 

Over the years, Matthew has attended Pipe Organ Encounter’s in Lebanon, PA and in Rochester, NY where he studied with Dennis Elwell and Cherry Rhodes.  He has also played in master classes given by Mark Laubach, David Craighead, Ann Elise Smoot, Johannes Unger, Gillian Weir and Rachel Laurin.  In June of 2007, he attended Yale Organ week in Connecticut studying with Martin Jean and Delbert Disselhorst.  He is winner of the 2002 Vernon de Tar competition for organ and the 2007 Violette Cassel organ competition.  A few months later, he received 2nd place at the Westchester Competition.     

 

Having an equal love of piano, Matthew was fortunate to study with internationally recognized pianist Naoko Takao for six months in the fall of 2005.  He continues to coach with Dr. Shelly Moorman-Stahlman.  His favorite pianists include Petronel Malan, Khatia Buniatishvili, Stephen Hough, Olga Kern, Kevin Oldham, Benno Moiseiwitsch, and Ignaz Friedman just to name a few.  Matthew currently teaches piano and organ at the Maryland Conservatory of Music, and maintains a regular concert schedule.  He lives in Churchville, MD.