Matthew Schoening, Electric Cello

Monday, October 16, 2023 – 12 PM

Matthew Schoening was born into a musical family. His father was in the San Francisco Symphony for over 40 years as a violist. His mother is a professional flautist.

Matthew started playing cello at age 12 in his middle school. At age 17 he put the cello down due to an uninspiring musical program in his High School, and did not play again until he was in his 20s. During this time he began to perform with many San Francisco based rock bands, and strayed away from classical music. After a couple of years doing this, Matthew bought his first looping pedal and began to write music for the technology.

Eventually, Matthew fell out of all of the projects he was in, after essentially approaching everyone he was working with and requesting to either become a more integral part of the projects, or step away from working together. As such, his solo career began in 2006 through writing and performing his first “electric cello” album, “Solo Electric Cello”, which he recorded and released in 2007 in his apartment in LA.

Today, Matthew has 5 award-winning albums with his project, “Solo Electric Cello”. He is featured on many other albums from other artists. Matthews most recent album, “Narrow Path” was recorded and released in 2015.

In 2016, Matthew became injured from all of the touring, and had to stop playing for several years.

He is now finally performing again, and is preparing to write and record a new album, and tour with it in 2024!

Matthew has had his music paced in film and television, and has performed for Entertainment Tonight and “Home and Family” on the Hallmark Channel.

He has toured all over the US, Canada, Europe, and parts of Asia.

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Program:

What exactly is “live looping”? (brief demonstration)

“Dark Seduction”
From his album “The Art of Live Looping”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Dessert Dreams”
From his album “Solo Electric Cello”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Narrow Path”
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Structure”
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Odyssey”
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Emotional Clockwork”
From his album “Solo Electric Cello”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Light at the End of the Tunnel”
From his album “The Art of Live Looping”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

“Frolik”
From his album “Narrow Path”
written and performed by Matthew Schoening

Free concerts at noon every Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every Monday at noon and last about an hour.

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.