Matthew Stern, Executive Director

 

Matt Stern, viola, enjoys a multi-faceted career as a music instructor and restaurant manager. Born in Chicago, IL, Matt moved to Santa Rosa, CA with his family when he was 6 years old. He started studying violin at age 8 under instructors Sue Hufford and Polly Holbrook. He began studying viola with Linda Ghidossi-DeLuca at age 12. He grew up playing and performing in Santa Rosa Youth Orchestra ensembles and sat as principal violist in the Santa Rosa Youth Orchestra, Young People’s Chamber Orchestra, and Santa Rosa High School Symphony Orchestra and String Orchestra. Matt graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in Music under the tutelage of violist Joyce Ramée, and has performed with the Santa Rosa Symphony, Vallejo Symphony, Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, and has been a member of the Sonoma County Philharmonic since 2015 and principal violist since 2019. Besides music, Matt’s other passion is food and beverage. He currently lives in Santa Rosa working as a General Manager for Stark Reality Restaurants.