Dr. Matthew W. Leese is a conductor, baritone, stage director and educator based in Keene, New Hampshire. Matthew received his Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Otago, Graduate Diploma in Historical Performance from the Longy School of Music, Masters in Early Music from Indiana University and Doctorate in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois. He is the Director of Vocal Music at Keene High School (New Hampshire), Artistic Director of Zenith Ensemble (Keene), Artist in Residence with Boston City Singers, and an Artistic Director of the St Andrews Arts Council.

Recent noted projects have included directing and conducting Stephen Schwartz’s ‘Working’ for Keene High School Drama Club, Hans Krasa’s ‘Brundibar’ for the Redfern Arts Center Voices of Terezin series, Benjamin Britten’s ‘The Little Sweep’ with Keene State Opera and the Colonial Theatre, Voices of the Bay in New Brunswick, period performances of Bach’s ‘Johannespassion’ with Monadnock Chorus, and designing a Ewing Arts Award-winning season with the Chamber Singers of Keene.

At the university level, Matthew enjoyed directorships of the Keene State Concert Choir, Keene Vocal Consort and Millikin University Women’s Choir. As a baritone, Leese appears as a concert soloist and professional chorister, performing with medieval ensemble LIBER, SPIRE (Kansas City) and TACTUS (Oklahoma City). Matthew has studied voice with Cynthia Haymon, Robert Harrison, Paul Elliott, Laurie Monahan and Judy Bellingham and conducting with Fred Stoltzfus, Chester Alwes, Jack Speirs and Michael Joel. He has performed in masterclass and coachings with Tony Thornton, Wayne Abercrombie, Joseph Flummerfelt, Simon Carrington, Håkan Hagegård, Nigel North, Dana Maiben, Frances Conover Fitch, and Karen Grylls.