Matthew J. LaPine

Matthew J. LaPine is an active performer, educator, conductor, and composer in central New Jersey. He received the designation Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where he studied voice and graduated with distinction. He also received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster, studying voice and piano, graduating summa cum laude, and winning the Sophomore Piano Competition. As a conductor, Mr. LaPine has been the graduate assistant with Westminster Williamson Voices and Westminster Schola Cantorum (under the supervision and direction of the acclaimed James Jordan), rehearsal assistant for the Westminster Jubilee Singers (under the direction of J. Donald Dumpson), and he has led rehearsals and soloed with the Westminster Symphonic Choir. He has studied piano with Lillian Livingston, Francis McGuigan, and Ann Marie Nowak; voice with Marvin Keenze and Sonja Funk; and music theory and composition with Jay Kawarsky, Barton Bartle, and Anthony Kosar.

Mr. LaPine is the Founder and Artistic Director of Rise Up Community Arts, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to enrich lives through experiences in the arts by nurturing meaningful connections and human interaction. He is the director of Rise Up Chorus’ Adult Chorus which recently went on a performance tour of Spain. He is Choral Director at Bernards High School, where his ensembles have received national acclaim and have performed in prestigious venues throughout the United States. Matthew also is a private voice teacher and guest clinician for choirs and music organizations throughout the northeast. Formerly, Matthew sang for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen (NJ) a soloist, section leader, and guest conductor with the Festival and Chamber Choirs as well as was a cantor at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen (NJ). Matthew was also the Director of Camerata, an ensemble for young men in grades 7-12 with changing or changed voices, with the New Jersey Youth Chorus as well as Co-Director of Early Childhood Music Camps at Westminster Conservatory of Music. Mr. LaPine’s ensembles have performed in such prestigious locations as The White House (Washington, D.C.), Carnegie Hall (NYC), St. Louis Cathedral (New Orleans, LA), the Thomas Jefferson Memorial (Washington, D.C), and with such ensembles as Canadian Brass, Celtic Tenors, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and singing the National Anthem at New York Jets, New York Mets, and Somerset Patriots games.

Mr. LaPine has been published as a contributing author in multiple works, most recently the journal article “Fitting It All In” (in the national publication, Teaching Music Magazine), and he is a member of the National Association for Music Education, New Jersey Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, and the New Jersey chapter of ACDA.

Matthew is married to his incredible wife, Jessica, and they have three wonderful children, Daniel, Michael, and Juliette.