About me: Maryland based composer, lyricist and multi-instrumentalist Minister Matthew J. Hemerlein was coerced into taking classical violin at the age of five. His Parents had aspirations of creating a modern day Von Trapp family, so both his siblings were also given violins not long after the umbilical chord was cut, with Mat gravitating towards the cello. Having survived the perils of the classical music world with his love for the essence of music intact he has since gone on to embrace the pure creation of Sound in the context of Jazz improvisation, the raw honesty of finger picked Blues and the ephemeral electricity of a fresh composition. Mat has performed at such venues as The House of Blues New Orleans, Tipitina’s, Maryville College-Knoxville Tennesse, The White House, and Wolftrap Center for the Performing arts. His bicycle is his preferred mode of transportation and he adores a new pair of vibrant dress socks.