Matthias McIntire
Canadian composer, performer, and educator Matthias McIntire has followed a unique path through music and his compositions reflect his eclectic background in performance (violin, viola, voice, and electronics), Western classical and new music, as well as jazz, fiddle, free improvisation, field recording, foley art, and electronic music. His music has found inspiration from personal expression, the human psyche and emotions, collaboration with others, nature, birds, making field recordings, fear of climate change, colourful things, stars, the spaces between musical genres, feelings of mystery in the world, and travel.
Winner of the 2021 Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music (University of Toronto) and 10+ grants from the Toronto, Ontario, and Canada Councils for the Arts, Matthias’ compositions have been presented in Canada, the United States, and Europe. His 40-minute song cycle for soprano/piano/live electronics sing nature alive from my insides, composed for self-accompanied soprano Rachel Fenlon, has been presented at SXSW Classical in Austin, Texas, Berlied Festival (Berlin), Ottawa Chamberfest, the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance (Nova Scotia), Barokki Kuopio Festival (Finland), and SweetWater Festival (Ontario). It will be presented again at ClassicalNext in Budapest, Hungary in April 2026.
Season highlights include Matthias’ composer debut with the Edmonton Symphony with his work The Forest Reclaims the Land; an evening-length portrait concert of his music co-presented by Scotia Fest and Dalhousie University; multiple performances of his song cycle sing nature alive from my insides, including his Berlin debut and at Classical: NEXT 2026 in Budapest, Hungary; and the world premiere of lost child, his concerto for violin, live-electronics, and orchestra performed by himself and the Dalhousie Symphony Orchestra.
Matthias was Composer-in-Residence at the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance (Lamp) in Nova Scotia from 2022-2024, where he has also co-directed Lamp’s Composition Academy for three seasons (2023-present). Matthias joined the faculty at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2024 where he teaches Composition, Intro to Composition, and directs the New Music Ensemble.
Matthias’ performance highlights include appearing as guest second violin with the St. Lawrence String Quartet, performing as violin soloist with Symphony Nova Scotia in Nicole Lizée’s violin concerto ‘Cathedral Mountain’, chamber music appearances with leading musicians including Annalee Patipatanakoon, Christina Quilico, the Miro Quartet, and members of orchestras from across Canada. He has appeared as section violinist and violist with the National Ballet Orchestra of Canada, Tapestry Opera, New Music Concerts Toronto, and Symphony Nova Scotia. Additionally, from 2013-2017, he was a core member of the SF Bay Area’s Real Vocal String Quartet as violist, vocalist, improviser, and composer. He has also shared the stage with jazz greats Vijay Iyer, Dave Douglas, and Uri Caine.