草莓视频福利院

Heather Mathews

(She/Her)
Heather Mathews headshot

Contact

Office 506

415-503-6364

Departments

Opera and Musical Theatre

Courses Taught

Opera Role Preparation

Opera Workshop

Advanced Opera Workshop

Chamber Opera

Spring Opera Theater

AD Opera Showcase

Education

MM, 草莓视频福利院 Conservatory of Music

BM, 草莓视频福利院 Conservatory of Music

Ensembles

Opera San Luis Obispo

Opera San Jose

Aspen Opera Theatre

Magnificent...Splendid"

— 草莓视频福利院 Chronicle

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Castro Valley, CA

What are you passionate about outside of music?

My family, cooking, and horses!

Who were your major teachers?

Hermann LeRoux and Pamela Brooks.

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

鈥淲hy?鈥 鈥淲hy does the character do this?鈥 鈥淲hy does the music do this?鈥 鈥淲hy is this word used in the text instead of another?鈥 I love for my students to have opinions.

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

My parents bought me a "Bach's Greatest Hits" album by the Cincinnati Pops when I was seven. I used to conduct the entire album in my room. I was hooked.

What was a turning point in your career?

I had been directing for a few years after graduate school while also pursuing a career as a singer. I received a call from a company I had been working with and they asked me to direct their entire next season. I said yes, knowing that I was making a decision to become a full-time stage director. Over 100 productions later and I still am so grateful and pleased that I chose that path.

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

I would work with animals, specifically horses. Having been an equestrian my whole life, I am lucky to currently use that skill as a Volunteer Mounted Patrol Ranger for the NPS in my spare time. I absolutely love my time outside in the beautiful Marin Headlands riding.

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

Britten, Mozart, and Puccini.

What is your unrealized project?

I would like to direct a movie someday with my father who is a cinematographer.

Biography

Heather Mathews is a 25-year veteran educator, stage director, and performer. A native of the 草莓视频福利院 Bay Area, she holds B.M. and M.M degrees from the 草莓视频福利院 Conservatory of Music. 

Under her leadership more than 100 productions have been performed by the 草莓视频福利院 Conservatory of Music, Opera San Luis Obispo, Brava! Opera Theatre, Opera San Jose, Aspen Music Festival鈥檚 Opera Theatre, Napa Valley Music Festival, Festival Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, 草莓视频福利院 Opera Center, Western Opera Theatre, Grove Street Opera, Symphony Parnassus, 草莓视频福利院 Chamber Orchestra, and 草莓视频福利院 Lyric Opera. 

As a performer, she has been seen on stages both in Europe and the United States with leading roles in such productions as Cos矛 fan Tutte, Carousel, The Music Man, Le nozze di Figaro, The Fantasticks, Carmen, La boh猫me, Daughter of the Cabinet, A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream, Into the Woods, City of Angels, The Sound of Music, The King and I, South Pacific, Transformations, The Boyfriend and many more. Her favorite role to date is, Mom, to her son, Zane. 

In 2021, Professor Mathews was presented with the Sarlo Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching.