Our Music

Our Director

Matthew Larson received his Doctorate in Collaborative Piano from Arizona State University in 2001 under the tutelage of Eckart Sellheim. An accomplished accompanist, Dr. Larson has played over 500 recitals in the United States and Austria. He has worked with such artists as Metropolitan Opera stars Carol Vaness, Maria Sacagna, Jennifer Larmore, and Sherrill Milnes; Academy of Ancient Music director Christopher Hogwood; vocal pedagogy pioneer Richard Miller; and the eminent collaborative artist Dalton Baldwin, with whom Matthew was invited to study in New York.

As a church musician, Dr. Larson has served as vocal soloist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Storrs, CT; Center Church (UCC), Hartford, CT; and St. Joseph's Cathedral (Catholic Archdiocese),

Hartford, CT. He was organist and pianist at Center Church, Hartford, CT; Unity of the Southwest in Scottsdale, AZ; King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, AZ; and Scottsdale Congregational Church (UCC) in Scottsdale, AZ.

Dr. Larson's vast knowledge of vocal repertoire has led him to play for many competitions and auditions, including the Metropolitan Opera Guild, San Francisco Opera, National Association of Teachers of Singing, NATS Artist Auditions, National Federated Music Clubs, Music Teachers National Association, Rosa Ponselle Competition, and The American Music Competition. He has held the positions of Assistant Conductor and Pianist for Boston Lyric Opera, Assistant Music Director for the University of Connecticut Voice and Opera Program, Staff Accompanist for Arizona State University School of Music, Vocal Coach and Music Director for A.S.U. Lyric Opera Theater, Staff Pianist for The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, Music Director of Opera Providence, Vocal Coach for Boston University's Opera Institute, Staff Pianist for Opera New England, and Staff Pianist for yale University Opera. A sought-after clinician, Dr. Larson has been guest artist or artist-in-residence in Chamber Music and Collaborative Piano at Yale University, Brown University, Harvard University, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Arizona State University, Wheaton College, University of Connecticut, and Eastern Mennonite University.

Dr. Larson has studied piano with the late Mathilde Weaver (Orange, CT), Neal Larrabee and Petter Juel-Larsen (UCONN), and Eckart Sellheim (Graz, Austria and

ASU). He has also studied fortepiano with Eckhart Sellheim, Collaborative Pianto with Mr. Sellheim and Dalton Baldwin (NY), Harpsichord with Christa Rakish (CT), Organ with Marilyn Beiry (CT), and hard with Marian Rian-Hays (Graz, Austria).

Currently, Dr. Larson serves as Vocal Coach for Tanglewood Institute's Young Artist Vocal Program, as Music Director of the University of Connecticut Opera Program, and Director of Music at First Congregational Church of Milton, located in Milton, Mass.

Our Choir

There are several facets that make up the Music Program at First Congregational Church. The core of the Music Ministry is the Choir, a dedicated group currently comprised of 16 to 20 members.  The choir meets Thursday nights from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm and on Sunday mornings, prior to worship, at 9:00 am.  We focus on constantly improving vocal quality and ensemble, and we sign unaccompanied music, mostly in English (occassionally we perform in other languages, including French, German, and Latin). The members of the Choir are devoted to making music, and enjoy the fellowship that comes with artistic fullfillment. Augmenting the Choir is the second component of the Music Program - our wonderful professional soloists (Soprano Beth Canterbury and Mezzo-soprano Valerie Kraft). These highly trained musicians not only help out in rehearsals, but also provide solos, duets, and trios (with Dr. Larson singing tenor) each week in worship.

Choir Section Leaders

Soprano Section Leader and soloist Beth Canterbury has earned a reputation as a versatile and dynamic artist and teacher throughout the Northeast. Long interested in the intersection of the arts and education, Ms. Canterbury graduated from Kenyon College, where she designed an interdisciplinary major studying Education Policy, Reform, and the Role of the Arts in Education. She then enrolled at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, where she earned her Master of Music degree in Opera Performance. Her operatic roles have included Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Frasquita in Carmen, and Josephine in HMS Pinafore. Recent oratorio engagements have included Georg Friedrich Handel's Messiah, Joseph Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, and John Rutter's Magnificat. Ms. Canterbury is also committed to performing new and experimental works. In November 2006 she sang in the world premiere tour of the children's opera The Bug Queen. In his review of a program of the music of composer Allen Shaw, Richard Dyer wrote in The Boston Globe, "Canterbury sang with charm, warmth and easy high notes." Beth has been a featured performer in various benefit concerts, including Cape Cod Opera, Opera By The Bay, and The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also an avid charity advocate, giving performances for such causes as The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, The Invisible Cities Group, and the Boston Cure Project. Beth Canterbury holds the position of Associate Director for Opera by the Bay, and is Department Co-Chair fo the South Shore Conservatory, Massachusetts' largest non-profit community school for the performing arts.

Valerie Kraft, originally from Milwaukee, WI, now resides in Boston where she has sung in the ensemble with Opera Boston, a soloist with Longwood Opera and Mass Theatrica and the soprano soloist in Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio with the Falmouth Chorale and Orchestra. Most recently, Ms. Kraft studied at the Aspen Music Festival where she covered the role of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and was heard in masterclass as Nedda in I Pagliacci and as Alice in Falstaff. Ms. Kraft joined Cape Cod Opera in their production of Tosca where she was the title role's cover. She will return to Cape Cod this winter to sing Mimi in La Boheme. Other recent performances include the roles of Lauretta and Nella in Gianni Schicchi with Chelsea Opera and with Opera del West, La Comtesse in Cherubin with Opera New Jersey, Mrs. Gobineau in The Medium with Sorg Opera. Ms. Kraft was a Young Artist with Kentucky Opera where she sang Micaela in their educational tour of Carmen. She returned to Kentucky Opera in a puppet theater production of The Happy Prince with performances in Louisville and Lexington as well as other areas around the state. Ms. Kraft studied at Boston University and then moved to Ohio to receive her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Cincinnati - College of Conservatory Music.

Special Music Events

In addition to the weekly music for worship, First Congregational Church enjoys a wide variety of performances and musical offerings outside of the church service. Each year, the Choir and several talented congregants bring their voices and holiday spirit to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and shut-ins with Christmas Carols. The town is invited to join us at the Town Green for "Caroling on the Common" followed by cocoa, cookies, and fellowship. Several times each year, guest singers and our own soloists give special concerts, from "Cabaret" shows in the Great Hall (complete with wine, appetizers, and desserts) to fully-staged operas in the Sanctuary. There is something for everyone!