Student Stories: Matthew Shorten

Matthew Shorten

Class of 2020
Major: Composition

Amid the many unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Matthew Shorten, BMus ’20 and 2020 Founder’s Medalist, is readily preparing for the experience of a lifetime as a scholar in the VOCES8 U.S. Scholars program.

VOCES8 is a world-renowned touring ensemble of eight singers, who sell out concert halls across the world. As a Blair student, Shorten was invited to audition for a tenor position as a member of VOCES8 in Washington, D.C. During his research for the audition, he also noticed an opening for the U.S. Scholars program, by chance, and decided to apply. The VOCES8 U.S. Scholars program is a highly selective training opportunity established through the VOCES8 Foundation and provides 12 young vocalists with a scholarship, as well as invaluable experience and industry contacts, in order to advance their professional careers. Not only was Shorten selected as a scholar, but he was also the youngest in the program by nearly ten years, as well as the only undergraduate vocalist.

In addition to balancing his many obligations as a Vanderbilt student, Shorten also experienced feelings of imposter syndrome due to his age and perceived lack of experience in comparison to his peers in the program. However, Shorten, who immigrated to the United States from Australia as a teenager, is no stranger to stepping out of his comfort zone and embracing challenge. As a Composition major and Voice and Violin minor in the Blair School of Music, Shorten learned the importance of finding opportunities and experiences that test the skills and knowledge he learned in the classroom.

“All of these extraordinary opportunities have really stemmed from the resources given to Vanderbilt students. Taking initiative and advantage of those opportunities, along with Blair’s emphasis on finding preparatory experiences over the summer and providing financial and faculty support for them, has really been invaluable for me. I think it’s been vital for my development, and it’s certainly one of Vanderbilt’s strengths,” Shorten explained.

Shorten points to the extensive coursework and experiences he gained as a Composition major as the foundation of his preparation for the program. Through his major, Shorten has composed pieces for Nashville-based ensemble Chatterbird, New York-based Kyo-Shin-An Arts, and for the Louisiana Poet Laureate. Shorten also acknowledges the role that the Blair School of Music faculty have had in creating a supportive environment and nurturing his artistic endeavors, such as his choir director, Tucker Biddlecomb, musicology professor, Melanie Lowe, violin professor, Maria Romero, composition professor, Stan Link, and his collaborative voice professor, Melissa Rose.

“They understand that the most successful graduates are the ones who have had professional experience, and they definitely encourage you and really foster and cultivate that interest in getting professional experience early,” Shorten explained.

When asked if he had any advice for students preparing for similar experiences through Immersion, Shorten stated, “It really does prepare you for the next stage of your career in ways you’re not even aware of. I never foresaw that I would want to do professional choral singing. I thought it was not in the cards for me at any point until I really started exploring this opportunity and had that year of experience, so it’ll take you in new directions when you take initiative with your aspirations and your goals, take them into your own hands, and find unique ways of making those connections and collaborations.”

Learn more about Matthew Shorten and keep up with his upcoming performances.