Matthew Scollin
Bass-Baritone
BIOGRAPHY
Hailed by the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review as a “tour de force expressed with a powerful and resonant voice," bass-baritone Matthew Scollin has established himself on operatic and concert stages alike. In the 2017-18 season, Mr. Scollin returned to the Opéra National de Bordeaux as Goffredo in Il pirata. Stateside, he made debuts with both Washington National Opera and Los Angeles Opera as Martin and James in Candide; returned to Pittsburgh Opera as the Sacristan in Tosca; and sang Montolino in Bellini’s La straniera with Washington Concert Opera. The previous season, he made his international debut with the Théâtre du Capitole, followed by his first performances with Opéra National de Bordeaux, as Martin and James in Candide. He sang the Jeff in Beck’s The Long Walk with Utah Opera, the Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte with Madison Opera, returned to Pittsburgh Opera for both Dottore Grenvil in La traviata and the Second Soldier in Salome, and reprised Pistola in Falstaff with Resonance Works Pittsburgh. On the concert stage, he joined the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic for Mozart’s Requiem and the Westmoreland Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Other recent performances for Mr. Scollin include Pistola in Falstaff and Simplico in Glass’ Galileo Galilei with Des Moines Metro Opera, his first performances of Martin and James in Candide and Lakei in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Glimmerglass Festival, Colline in La bohème with DC Public Opera, and the Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte with Pacific Musicworks. He maintains a strong relationship with Pittsburgh Opera, where as a former Resident Artist, his performances included Don Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Friedrich Bhaer in Adamo’s Little Women, Ernest Hemingway in Gordon’s 27, the Gran Sacerdote in Nabucco in addition to covering Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte.
He is the winner of a Career Development Award from the The William Matheus Sullivan Musical Foundation. Mr. Scollin earned his Master of Music from the University of Illinois, at which he received the Jerry Hadley Memorial Scholarship and sang the Duruflé Requiem, Monterone in Rigoletto, and Don Quixote in The Man of La Mancha. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University, where he sang his first performances of Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Alidoro in La cenerentola, Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette, El capitán in Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, Elder McLean in Floyd’s Susannah, and Simone in Gianni Schicchi.
Mr. Scollin is currently a member of the United States Air Force Band Singing Sergeants. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC, the Singing Sergeants present more than 200 performances annually around the country to honor those who have served, inspire American citizens to heightened patriotism and service, and positively impact the global community.
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MEDIA
PRESS
"Matthew Scollin...[was] outstanding dramatically as well as vocally."
-Catherine Reese Newton,
Salt Lake Tribune
“Pistola (Matthew Scollin) [was] absolutely committed…Mr. Scollin has a pointed bass-baritone used with solid conviction."
-James Shore,
Opera Today
“Scollin’s Hemingway aria…was a tour de force expressed with a powerful and resonant voice.”
-Mark Kanny,
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
“Matthew Scollin’s penetrating bass voice and strong stage demeanor made the High Priest of Baal a commanding presence whenever he appeared.”
-Robert Croan,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Young Artists from the Glimmerglass apprentice program were splendid in the many supporting roles, particularly…Matthew Scollin as Candide’s pessimistic traveling companion Martin.”
-Heidi Waleson,
The Wall Street Journal
“Matthew Scollin sings strongly as the overly pessimistic Martin.”
-George Loomis,
Financial Times
“Scollin poured as much gravitas as possible into his solos, and his singing of ‘Confutatis maledictis’ wonderfully changed from a subterranean force to a tremulous plea.”
-James Bash,
Northwest Reverb
“Matthew Scollin provided a good supply of humor with his fine singing and dancing.”
-Gene Harris,
Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Bass-baritone Matthew Scollin’s scruffy Dick Deadeye was delectably scheming.”
-Grace Jean,
The Washington Post
