About Me

Baritone Matthew J. Daniels was born and raised in Fort Pierce, FL. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Louisiana State University, where he studied with Dr. Loraine Sims. He earned additional degrees in music from Florida Atlantic University (MA, BMus), Indian River Community College (AA), and in 2001 he attended Manhattan School of Music as a student of the late Met Opera baritone, Theodor Uppman.

Dr. Daniels is Director of Music at Bishop Foley Catholic High School and Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Michigan. Most recently, he served on the voice faculties of University of Michigan-Flint, Eastern Michigan University, Madonna University, and Spring Arbor University. During 2016-17, Daniels was Assistant Professor of Voice at Mississippi State University, and prior to attending LSU as a doctoral teaching assistant, he was an adjunct instructor of voice at Florida Atlantic University and Indian River State College. Furthermore, Daniels has directed high school and church music programs in Michigan, Florida, and Louisiana.

Equally comfortable in a variety of musical styles, Daniels has sung leading roles in both opera and musical theatre, and he is an avid performer of concert and recital work. Forthcoming engagements include Faust (Chorus, AGMA) and Aida (Chorus, AGMA) with Detroit Opera as well as Messiah soloist with Florida Atlantic University. Recent engagements include The Mikado (Pooh-bah and stage director) with University of Michigan-Flint, Amahl & the Night Visitors (Melchior) with Madonna University, baritone soloist for Beethoven Mass in C with the UMS Choral Union "Summer Sing" concert series at Hill Auditorium conducted by Scott Hanoian, and AGMA Chorus with Detroit Opera (formerly Michigan Opera Theatre). Leading roles in opera, operetta, and musical theatre include the following: Così fan tutte (Guglielmo), Il barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro), The Magic Flute (Papageno), La Bohème (Marcello), Rigoletto (Rigoletto), Le Nozze di Figaro (Il Conte di Almaviva), Amahl and Night Visitors (Balthazar), Der Schauspieldirektor (Buff), The New Moon (Robert), The Mikado (Pooh-bah), Godspell (Jesus), Camelot (Lancelot), South Pacific (Emil), Man of La Mancha (Cervantes/Don Quixote), A Grand Night for Singing (Leading Man), and Cole! (Leading Man). Additionally, he has appeared as baritone soloist in numerous major works: Mozart Coronation Mass, Brahms Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Handel Messiah, Mendelssohn Elijah, Fauré Requiem, Dubois Seven Last Words of Christ, Rutter Mass of the Children, and Vaughan-Williams Five Mystical Songs.