Monday, October 16, 2023

12 PM

Matthew Schoening was born into a musical family. His father was a violist in the San Francisco Symphony for over 40 years and his mother is a professional flautist. 

Matthew started playing cello at age 12 in his pubic school music program. At age 17, he put the cello down due to an uninspiring musical program in his high school and did not play again until he was in his 20s. He began to perform with various San Francisco based rock bands and strayed away from classical music. After several years, Matthew bought his first looping pedal and started to write music using this technology. He fell in love with the innovation and complexity of musical repertoire he was able to create using this equipment. Matthew has an affinity for sound technology and has worked professionally as an audio/video consultant doing multi-million dollar installations for corporate clients.

Matthew launched his solo career by writing and performing his first “electric cello” album, “Solo Electric Cello”, which he recorded and released in 2007 from his apartment in Los Angeles. He embarked on this journey of creative original music composition and never looked back! Today, Matthew has 5 award-winning albums with his project “Solo Electric Cello”. His most recent album, “Narrow Path”, was recorded and released in 2015.  He has toured the United States, Canada, Europe, and China and is featured on albums from other artists including Ottmar Liebert, David Helpling, Snatam Kaur, and Nirinjan Kaur. He has performed in Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Beethovenhalle in Bonn, the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco opening for Alanis Morissette. He has also played for many celebrity private events in LA and throughout CA. Matthew's music has been placed in film and television, including performances for Entertainment Tonight and “Home and Family” on the Hallmark Channel.  

In 2016, Matthew stepped back from his public performances due to an injury sustained from touring. He is excited to be playing again for the public and is preparing to write and record a new album with plans to tour in 2024. http://www.soloelectriccello.com

Program:

What exactly is "live looping"? (brief demonstration)

“Dark Seduction”
From his album “The Art of Live Looping”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

"Desert Dreams"
From his album “Solo Electric Cello”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

"Narrow Path"
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Structure”
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Odyssey"
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

"Emotional Clockwork”
From his album “Solo Electric Cello”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Light at the End of the Tunnel”
From his album “The Art of Live Looping”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Frolik”
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

Free concerts at noon every Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every Monday at noon and last about an hour.

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.

Masks optional. If you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.