Recognized as a tenor of remarkable versatility and solid musicianship, with an impressive range and an exciting facility in his upper register, Matthew Chellis has appeared to critical and popular acclaim throughout the United States , Europe , South America , and Canada . Simultaneously displaying a rare ability for dramatic characterization and theatricality, Mr. Chellis has enjoyed equal success in opera, concert, and theatrical performances. Engagements during the 2003-04 season include a return to New York City Opera as Don Anchises the Podestà in LA FINTA GIARDINIERA, Nemorino in L'ELISIR D'AMORE with Lake George Opera, the title role in CANDIDE with Michigan Theater, and the Devil in DIE SCHWARZE SPINNE with Gotham Chamber Opera. 

Mr. Chellis has been a frequent guest artist with Lincoln Center's New York City Opera in a wide variety of roles which have included Don Ottavio in DON GIOVANNI, Baron Lummer in Richard Strauss's INTERMEZZO, John Adams in Virgil Thomson's THE MOTHER OF US ALL, Thespis / Mercure in Jean Philippe Rameau's PLATÉE, Trouffaldino in THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES, the Father in Kurt Weill's THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS, and Cascada in THE MERRY WIDOW ( Live from Lincoln Center PBS telecast).

Additional career highlights for Mr. Chellis have included Tamino in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE with New York City Opera, Atlanta Opera, Berkshire Opera, and Opera North; Don Ramiro in LA CENERENTOLA with Germany's Giessen Stadt Oper (European debut), Opéra de Québec (Canadian debut), Wolf Trap Opera, and Lake George Opera; Ernesto in DON PASQUALE with Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, and Virginia Opera; Count Almaviva in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA with the New York City Opera National Company, Fresno Grand Opera, Mobile Opera, and Chautauqua Opera; Tonio in LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT with the New York City Opera National Company; the Duke in RIGOLETTO with the Colombia's Teatro Colón de Bogotá (role debut); appearances with Dallas Opera as Andres in WOZZECK and as Pong in TURANDOT (company debut); Tebaldo in I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI with Atlanta Opera and Berkshire Opera; Cassio in OTELLO with Atlanta Opera; Pedrillo in DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL with Washington Opera; Ferrando in COSÌ FAN TUTTE with Shreveport Opera and the Wildwood Festival of Music and the Arts; the Tanzmeister in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS with the Opera Company of Philadelphia; Camille in THE MERRY WIDOW with Pensacola Opera; Nanki-Poo in THE MIKADO with New York City Opera and Chautauqua Opera; Frederick in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE with Chautauqua Opera; Henrik in Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC with Utah Opera and Chautauqua Opera; Harlequin in THE EMPEROR OF ATLANTIS with Chicago Opera Theater; and Roméo in ROMÉO ET JULIETTE with Shreveport Opera.

Recent concert highlights have included MESSIAH with Boston's Handel & Haydn Society (conducted by Christopher Hogwood), the National Symphony Orchestra (Kennedy Center debut / conducted by Nicholas McGegan), the Masterwork Chorus (Carnegie Hall debut), Santiago's Fundaçion Naçional Beethoven (South American debut), the Florida Philharmonic (conducted by James Judd), the Colorado Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, the Syracuse Symphony, and the Colorado Springs Symphony; POPS CONCERTs with the National Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Leonard Slatkin and accompanied by Steven Blier); THE MUSIC OF LERNER & LOEWE with the Grant Park Music Festival; CARMINA BURANA with the Syracuse Symphony; Honegger's KING DAVID with the Berkshire Choral Festival; and Benjamin Britten's SERENADE FOR TENOR, HORN, AND STRINGS with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Chellis's discography includes a recording of Robert Strassburg's CHELM for the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music. 

Originally trained as an actor and dancer, Matthew Chellis began his professional education at the University of Michigan where he earned his Bachelor of Musical Arts degree. After receiving his Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, he spent two years as a company member of the prestigious Juilliard Opera Center and was an apprentice artist with both Santa Fe Opera and Wolf Trap Opera. Mr. Chellis is currently an artist-in-residence and professor of voice at New York University 's Steinhardt School of Music.