MATTHEW COLEY
ADMIRING FANS AND COLLEAGUES
“Matthew is an outstanding musician with technique that will make your jaw drop combined with a
musical sensitivity and understanding for what he plays.” –Russell Vinick; conductor, Chicago
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, McHenry Youth Orchestras, Lakeview Symphony Orchestra
“Your performance of Khan Variations is wonderful. It has polyphonic clarity, rhythmic precision and pace. Balancing these three aspects is -in my opinion- essential in this piece and your performance achieves just that. Congratulations!” –Alejandro Viñao, composer, London
“His speed and accuracy always astounds me even when the technical aspects of the music seem
insurmountable. Yet he never looses the sense of the music, and has a gifted ear with regards to
expressive details and nuance of sound. He commits to the music whole heartedly, and this can be
seen in the dynamic and exciting physicality that is also part of his performances. It is not surprising that he also excels at dance and choreography, as he views movement to be central to his vision of
music.” –Bjorn Berkhout; composer, Queensbouro Community College
“As the maker of Matthew’s 5-octave Marimba One marimba, I have heard Matthew create sounds and expressions that are uniquely his own—beautiful and clear in communicating his vision of music.” -Ron Samuels; designer and owner, Marimba One
"It's just great performing and recording with such an outstanding professional as Matthew Coley.
He gathered a wonderful group of musicians and we rocked!" –Barbara Haffner; cellist, Lyric Opera
of Chicago
“Matthew Coley is a virtuoso musician who possesses an enormous intellectual and emotional
range whether performing on the marimba or any number of other instruments. Highly
recommended!” –James Ross; percussionist, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
"I would say that Matthew Coley's personality irradiates something warm, friendly and at the same
time very aristocratic. He's a young, clever and brilliant star that is rapidly gaining international
recognition. Musicians working with him, feel that they are creating together something very
valuable, distinctive and unique. It's a direct result from Matthew's versatility as marimba, dulcimer
and percussion player, his skills as composer, experience in programming concerts, and also his
rich background in dance and choreography. It's a blessing for us to have such an
outstanding musician!" –Daniel Galay; composer, Israel
“I still remember your wonderful performance of my Concerto. I think that Matthew played it just as I had imagined it before. He showed a great virtuosity and an outstanding musicality. Matthew is just a perfect artist.” - Marcin Blazewicz; composer, Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music
“I really thought your performance at University of North Texas was wonderful, very inspiring!”
- Paul Rennick, UNT Professor of Percussion
“I have just come from a live WFMT broadcast of Matthew Coley (marimba player) and the MIC’s wonderful Mary Drews [piano] and flutist, Scott Metlicka. Their concert was truly outstanding. Matthew Coley (he’s really a STAR) had started their group, “Sonic Inertia” and I have a new appreciation for marimba.” - Jim Jennings, Music Institute of Chicago Board Member
“You are a fine player, amazing!” - Igor Sarmientos, conductor (Guatemala, Moldova)
“Thank you once more for your brilliant participation in The Days of New Music International Festival. All the musicians are delighted with your performance and your master-classes.” - Ghenadi Ciobanu, composer (Moldova)
“If you ever need a very fine percussion-player: ask Matthew.
I can assure you: He is cool, flexible, virtuous and works very quickly. A true professional !!” - Raymond Munnecom, basstrombonist Royal Concertgebouworchestra Amsterdam and conductor Amsterdam Conservatory Brass
“The Concerto for marimba and orchestra of Jorge Sarmientos performed by the American virtuoso, Matthew Coley became an effective and incendiary episode of opening of festival”. -“Sources of Life” Newspaper, Chisinau, Moldova (Snejana Pislari. A lot of voices - one world, 2008
PUBLICATION ARTICLES
ISU Daily AMUSE, February 25, 2010
ISU Daily AMUSE, February 18, 2010
Time Out Chicago Magazine, September 2009
marimba
percussion
dulcimer
soloist and
collaborator