June 20, 1933 – February 14, 2006Mr. Matthews received his musical training at the Chicago Conservatory and his operatic training under Boris Goldovsky. Operatic credits included performances with New York City Opera, Opera Company of Brasilia, the Metropolitan Opera's production of Gertrude Stein-Virgil Thompson's Four Saints in Three Acts, Graz Opera in Austria, Milwaukee-Florentine Opera and Philadelphia Grand Opera. He performed a wide range of roles from Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust, to Porgy in Porgy and Bess and Prince Itelo in Leon Kirchner's Lily. He appeared as soloist with major orchestras in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe and South America including The New York Philharmonic, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit and Milwaukee Symphonies, Buffalo Philharmonic, Barbants Orchestra of Holland, Orebo and Norrkopings Orchestras (Sweden), Sinfonica Municipal of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Santa Cecelia Orchestra of Rome and L'Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec.
Mr. Matthews' concert appearances as a recitalist included performances in the United States, Canada, the Virgin Islands, South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. He was the principal founder of Opera Ebony and served as the Artistic Director since its inception in 1973 until his passing. Mr. Matthews' discography includes A Spiritual Journey, an album of inspirational spirituals and hymns, along with a companion recording, A Balm in Gilead, both on the Ebony Classic Recording label. Other releases included the Gertrude Stein-Virgil Thompson opera, Four Saints in Three Acts on Nonesuch Digital, George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess with the Slovak Philharmonic released on Opus Records and Opera Ebony's recording of Done Crossed Every River.
Wayne Sanders - Music Director
Wayne Sanders was co-founder of Opera Ebony, Inc., and served as the company's Music Director since its inception in 1973. Under his direction, the company has gained an international prominence, performing in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and the Caribbean.
As vocal coach and accompanist, Mr. Sanders has performed for televised Opera Ebony concerts worldwide and appeared at some of the world’s most important music festivals including the Spoleto Festival in Italy and the Savolinna Festival in Finland. At leading venues such as The Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.) and Carnegie Hall (New York City), he has accompanied such superstars as Jessye Norman, Florence Quivar, Kathleen Battle, George Shirley, William Brown, Hilda Harris, Jorma Hynnenin, Benjamin Matthews and Jubilant Sykes.
For his contribution to the arts and humanity, he has been awarded numerous honors within the United States and in Austria, Italy, Russia, Estonia and Germany. In Finland's largest newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, critic Olavi Kanko wrote, "He will be remembered as one of the great figures in the history of vocal music." Many of his students now perform with major opera companies and musical theaters throughout the world. He currently teaches on the voice faculty at Sarah Lawrence College in New York City.
Mr. Sanders is a prominent figure in the preservation and presentation of new American opera with special emphasis on works by women and people of color. He has co-produced and served as musical director for several world premieres. A brief listing includes, Perfect Harmony by Heikki Sarmanto (Finlandia Records), The Outcast by composer Noa Ain and The Meetin' by Pamela Baskin-Watson. He is currently working on the new opera-musical theatre work, Leo Edwards’ Harriet Tubman, and Opera Ebony's new touring musical review, The Colors of Love.
