Matthew Crane is the UK’s youngest Operatic Baritone.

As a year 9 pupil at Gads Hill School, in Kent, (the former home of Charles Dickens), Matthew’s extraordinary vocal talent was first recognised by his music teacher, Liz Buckley, who introduced him to Rochester Cathedral’s Choirmaster, Roger Sayer, and then to Christine Hubbard, his vocal coach and mentor.

Matthew had the support of his headmaster, David Craggs; this enabled him to balance his musical career and his schoolwork which where both very important to him.

At the age of 14, he he'd already surpassed the careers of many of his operatic counterparts of the older generation, winning numerous UK talent shows and Festivals, with songs such as “Nessun Dorma”, “Be My Love”, “Volare”, “La Donna e Mobile”, “O Sole Mio” and many more.

Matthew’s journey began winning the prestigious Star4Medway award, giving him the chance to perform at the first ever Kent Music Festival alongside stars Katherine Jenkins and G4 at Port Lympne Zoo.

He has performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the Gads Hill School Choir for the “Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children” Concert where he first met Katherine Jenkins and sang to her, privately, backstage, by request.

Next, he won the “Adult Open Opera Solo” class of the Medway Festival of Music Speech and Drama, in October 2005, at just 12 years old and, a year later, won the Junior and Senior Championships of the same Festival singing with astonishing clarity and was compared to that of a veteran performer by the local press who continue to follow Matthew with much interest.

Matthew is passionate about his singing and has been actively involved in many charity concerts, such as BBC Children in Need, The Mayor of Medway’s Charity Concert, The Universal Peace Federation Concert, and was honoured when asked to turn on the Chatham Xmas lights with the former Mayor, Councillor Ken Webber.

In January 2006, he was nominated for a “Pride of Medway Award” and then, in March, went on to win the “Gads Hill Spring Music Festival”.

In June 2006, Matthew signed to a new management company, he was managed by Steve Long, Danielle Barnett and Michelle Oliver whom are well known and respected within the music industry and who arranged for Matthew to work with one of the UK’s most renowned record producers, Andy Wright, with a prestigious recording contract pending.

Matthew has already amassed a celebrity fan base including the legendary Jools Holland, who gave Matthew a letter supporting his vocal talent to take to auditions, Katherine Jenkins Opera Singer & celebrity couple, Peter Andre and Jordan, Danny La Rue, and recently, Shane Lynch, whom he met in a singing competition in Essex.

Matthew has also just become the first Series Champion of BBC2’s New Talent Show, “Let Me Entertain You”, hosted by Brian Conley, whom was amazed by Matthews vocal ability.

Matthew loves to sing Classical Songs and Opera; he aspires to the great Luciano Pavarotti, the late Mario Lanza and the wonderful Bryn Terfel. He is currently learning to play the piano and is looking forward to a long and prosperous career in the music industry. He hopes you will continue to support him on his chosen path and has aspirations to attend the Royal Academy of Music in the future.

Matthew recently headlined his own Concert at Rochester Cathedral in September called “September Inspirations” to a sell out crowd with his Tutor and Mentor Christine Hubbard, he also performed in a “Classic Christmas Concert” in December 2006 with the “London Mozart Players” to much acclaim, Vanessa Feltz the TV Presenter and Radio Show Host and Newspaper Columnist came to both Concerts and wrote a very promising article on Matthew in the Daily Express on the 19th December 2006.

Since then he is to be involved in more Talent Shows and Competitions in 2007 and has been filmed by Channel 4 as part of a Showbiz Documentary / competition to be aired on TV early Spring Called “The Harvey Goldsmith Entertainer Of The Year” and has been nominated for another “Pride In Medway Award” and is to attend the award ceremony on 23rd march 2007 at the Corn Exchange in Rochester. He also auditioned for a new TV Show called “Britain’s Got Talent” in February, if successful Matthew could become a regular face on Simon Cowells new talent Show to be televised on ITV in May And June 2007 prime time , Watch this space.

Matthew also entered “The Gravesham Festival of Speech & Music” in March 2007, where he entered & won 5 Vocal competitions Matthew achieved 3 distinctions and 2 outstanding placements in the competition receiving 5 certificates and 5 large silver cups, the cups he won were “The Simmons Cup” for “Songs From The Shows” 14 years and under. “The Douglas Stevenson Cup” for “Songs from the Shows” for 18 years and under. “Scott Junior Vocal Cup” for Vocal Solo 14 years and under, “ The Keating Cup” Vocal Solo under 18 years and lastly “ The Ida Saunders Cup” for The Open Opera Solo .

The competition was adjudicated by Roger Crocker formerly of the Royal Academy of Music, he said Matthew had “A STUNNING VOICE, A MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE, WONDERFUL TO HEAR”.

Type of entertainer >

Male Vocalists