Matthew Linaman

Pre-College
  • Chamber Music
Matthew Linaman photo

Contact

Departments

Pre-College

Education

BM, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Instruments Taught

Chamber Music

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Reno, Nevada

What is your favorite recording? Why?

Currently it's Barenboim's performance of Schubert's Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Mindfulness Meditation and DIY home repairs

Who were your major teachers?

Jean-Michel Fonteneau, Emily Graff Uhlman, Mark Sokol

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

What would an authentic and inspired career path that impacts people and brings me joy look like and what is necessary to realize that dream?  

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

Playing Brahms Requiem in High School the night before college applications were due. 

What was a turning point in your career?

Every moment someone believed in me. 

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

Neuroscientist or Meditation teacher

What is your daily practice routine?

Start with what feels right and do what is needed. 

Biography

San Francisco based cellist Matthew Linaman has performed in over 15 countries across Europe and Asia as a soloist and member of the Cello Street Quartet. He performs over 50 concerts a year and has been recently engaged in recordings at Skywalker Ranch, performances with the San Francisco Symphony and the SF Ballet and has given a solo recital at Herbst Theater as part of SF Music Day. Notable appearances include the premier of Richard Marriott's Ghostship Requiem Concerto for Cello and Orchestra with the Oakland Symphony under the baton of the late Maestro Michael Morgan. Matthew has spoken on the TED stage and served as a Music Ambassador for the U.S. State Department in Eastern Europe and Russia and gives frequent presentations on modern-day musical entrepreneurship. After receiving the coveted Dean’s Award at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) and winning the annual Concerto Competition, Matthew completed his studies with award-winning french cellist Jean-Michel Fonteneau in 2013 and now serves on the Chamber Music Faculty of the SFCM Pre-College program. Matthew started the cello at age 11 through his public school music program and soon after began studies with Emily Graff Uhlman in Reno, Nevada.