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Ron Matthews

Pastor of Worship Arts
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Dr. Ron Matthews began his musical studies at the age of four, on piano. At eight, he began trumpet study with the former first chair of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He then began organ studies at age twelve and took his first church organist position two years later. The recipient of a Philadelphia Board of Education music scholarship, Ron did his undergraduate work in church music and organ at Westminster Choir College, where he graduated magna cum laude, receiving both the Senior Class Conducting Award and the Christian Leadership Award. During this time, he represented the Princeton-area college community as a representative to the annual Presidential Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C.

Ron received his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University. At age 22, he was asked to conduct the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra for a recording project in Tel Aviv, Israel. He also conducted the national tour of this project throughout major cities in the United States during the following year.

In 1976, at 23, Ron was invited to join the faculty of Nyack College in Nyack, NY, as the Director of Choral Activities. In 1981, he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition with an emphasis in Orchestral Conducting from Combs College of Music. He was twice the guest conductor at the annual performance of Messiah at West Point Chapel, featuring a combined community chorus of 300 singers with professional orchestra. In 1980, Ron accepted the post of Organist-Music Director of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Willow Grove, PA.

From 1982-1992, Ron served as chairman of the Department of Music at Philadelphia Biblical University, and since 1992, he has been Professor of Music and Director of Music Programs at Eastern University. He is chairman of both the Fine and Performing Arts Division and the Music Department. In 2005, he accepted the call of Pastor of Worship Arts at Church of the Saviour.

In addition to his university and church posts, Ron conducts Jubilate Deo Chorale and Orchestra of New Jersey, a 75-voice auditioned chorale and 65-piece professional orchestra, performing sacred and classical choral and orchestral music. He is a commissioned and published composer and is active in coaching, accompanying and chamber music. Ron was a Thomas F. Staley Foundation lecturer/artist and serves on several professional and denominational boards and task forces. He performs regularly with his brother, Rev. Dr. Gary Matthews, in concerts and workshops throughout the United States and Canada. They have released six recordings of historic and contemporary church music.

Ron holds Choir Master and Colleague certifications with the American Guild of Organists and completed a four-year faculty development grant for jazz study. He is listed in numerous national and international civic and professional Who's Who publications.