July 9, 2024

Hello, USG community!

My name is Stearns Matthews and I am so excited to be joining the staff team as your Acting Music Director.

From 2018 through 2022 when my husband and I moved back to Philly, I served the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Morristown, NJ as their Director of Music Ministries. I am so proud of the contributions I made to the 350-member congregation’s music and worship life, especially the joy and fearlessness we cultivated together in congregational singing. Prior to that, I was the Assistant Music Director at the UU Congregation at Montclair, NJ for five years. Did I mention I’m a lifelong UU?

Until its recent closure, I was the Coordinator of Voice Study for Musical Theater at the University of the Arts, where I also taught voice and acting for five years. I am so happy to be starting at USG in the wake of that loss. Thank you for welcoming me!

I said we moved “back” to Philly because Michael and I met as students at UArts 20 years ago. We’ve spent most of our adult lives in North Jersey and are so happy to be back in the magical city where we met and fell in love. We now live in South Philly with our 19-month-old son, Pete, and our dog, Darby.

If you’re curious about me as a voice teacher or a performer, feel free to check out my website, stearnsmatthews.com.

From what I’ve learned so far, USG is a wonderful community with a rich history and a very bright future. I am so excited to be part of it with you! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me to introduce yourself, give me your perspective on the music at USG, or to discuss horror movies or Italian food.

Eagerly,
Stearns