Email: mcates@ardmorebaptist.org
Matthew began serving as Ardmore’s Organist/Accompanist in April 2024.
He is from North Carolina and lives in Reidsville with his wife Carlene. They are the proud parents of their first child, John Paul, born on March 26th. Matthew will graduate in May with a Master of Music in Historical Keyboard Instruments from UNC Greensboro. He received his Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from UNC School of the Arts. He also studied at L’Académie Internationale d’Orgue in Paris, France and served as Organ Scholar at the Notre Dame D’Auteuil in Paris France. Matthew has performed in many venues across the United States and Europe, including the Washington National Cathedral, Duke University Chapel, the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, West Point Military Academy, Église de La Madeleine-Paris, Saint Étienne du Mont-Paris, the American Cathedral of Paris and Notre Dame d’Auteuil, among others.
As a composer, he has written a number of works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, piano, organ, and voice. His works have been performed in North America and across Europe. Matthew won two superior prizes for piano performances in the ACSI piano competitions and won First Prize at the Seventh Annual UNCSA High School Organ Competition, as well as the First Prize and the Bach Interpretation prize at the East Carolina University 2018 Organ Competition. His playing has been described in “The American Organist” as “technically and musically masterful. His love for the music is infectious.” Equally acclaimed are his piano performances, drawing praise and critical acclaim from venues across the globe.
