American lyric-baritone, Matthew Hayward, is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most versatile young artists of his generation. He is the winner of the 2009 Grand Concours de Chant-Gerard Souzay Tribute and was featured in concert at the Salle Cortot in Paris in November 2009. He also was given a 2009 Encouragement Award form the Gerda Lissner Foundation.

Over the past two seasons, Mr. Hayward’s engagements have included creating the role of Marquis de Brisaille in the World Premiere of David DiChiera’s Cyrano at the Michigan Opera Theatre, Gregorio in Roméo et Juliette with the Baltimore Opera, Count in Le Nozze di Figaro with Washington East Opera, Schaunard in La Bohème with the Princeton Festival and Syracuse Opera, Marcello in La Bohème with Skagit Opera, Schubert’s Mass in G with the City Cleveland Chamber Ensemble, and Le Bret in Michigan Opera Theatre’s student performance of Cyrano.Next, he performs Dancaïre in Carmen with Denyce Graves at Opera New Jersey.

Mr. Hayward has enjoyed a close association with the Aspen Music Festival and has sung recitals there featuring the works of Duparc, Schubert and Weill, performances of Ravel’s Chansons Madécasses, Schumann’s Spanisches Liederspiel and a Leonard Bernstein Gala with Broadway star Judy Kaye.

Recently in concert, he was personally invited by Maestro Julius Rudel to debut with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Arts Festival, where he sang an all Kurt Weill Gala with soprano Angelina Réaux. Mr. Hayward’s other concert repertoire includes Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’ Requiem, Mozart’s Missa Brevis, Beethoven’s Organ Solo Mass, Fauré’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s St. Paul, Mahler’s Wayfarer Songs and Orff’s Carmina Burana.

Mr. Hayward was a finalist in the 2007 Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition. He has performed under such distinguished conductors as Julius Rudel, John Moriarty, David Briskin, Sarah Jobin, Jeffrey Rink, Beatrice Affron, Dean Williamson, David Zinman and Keith Lockhart. A Seattle native, Mr. Hayward completed his Bachelor and Master of Music studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.