Historical Plucked string specialist, Matthew Xie focuses on the repertoire of the theorbo, lute, baroque guitar and 19th century guitar. He has performed extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Taiwan. He performs on the instrument(s): Renaissance Lute, Baroque Guitar, Baroque Lute and Theorbo as both a soloist and continuo player. In the spring of 2018, Matthew was invited to perform Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto in D major RV 93 on Baroque guitar as part of SFCM Baroque Concerto Winner’s concert and again in 2019 with Karl Kohaut’s Baroque Lute Concerto in F major. He has participated with the SF Conservatory Baroque Ensemble to bring to life: Handel’s Atalanta, and Rodelinda, and Tamerlano. Most recently, his performances included a tour with Holland Baroque to perform Kloosterkerk MONASTERY CHRISTMAS, a production of 17th century Dutch Christmas midnight masses directed by Tineke & Judith Steenbrinke.

Matthew has performed and studied with the most renowned lutenists in the industry which include: Lucas Harris, Francesca Torelli, Joachim Held, Peter Croton, Paul Odette, Paul Beier, Xavier Diaz LaTorre, Richard Egarr, Michael Chance, Hopkinsin Smith, and Nigel North. Matthew is an active and familiar face in early music ensembles and festivals which include: Amherst Early Music (AEM), the International Baroque Festival at Longy (IBIL), La Entroterra festival, Oregon Bach Festival (OBI), Oberlin Baroque Festival (OBF), SF Renaissance Voices (SFRV), SienAgosto, Tafelmusik Summer and Winter Institutes, SFEMS, Haymarket Opera Company, American Bach Soloists Academy (ABS), and the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht. His teachers include John Schneiderman, Richard Savino, Marc Teicholz, and Corey Jamason. Currently, Matthew is a recipient of Holland Baroque’s Samama Fellowship Program as a Lute/Theorbo Trainee.

Consecutively, Matthew received a Holland (2019/2020) and Excellence (2020/2021) Scholarship(s) to study and fund his studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium. Matthew graduated magna cum laude in a Master’s in Historical Performance Lute/Theorbo degree at the Koninklijk Conservatorium under the mentorship of Joachim Held and Mike Fentross. Matthew also holds graduate and bachelor degrees from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and UC, Irvine.

Matthew is currently active in California as a continuo player, chamber musician, soloist, instructor, and clinician.