About Ellenwood Studios
Founded in Chicago in 1995, Ellenwood Studios serves pre-professional and professional performers. We focus on integrating the skills necessary to excel as multi-disciplinary performers (singer/actor/dancer/musician/songwriter) who desire to work in all performance media from stage to screen.
Our work is informed by voice and affective science, paired with self-awareness and emotional regulation practices, and is integrated into a comprehensive and cohesive methodology. We seek to help performers to view themselves not just as interpretive artists but also as generative artists who feel empowered to actively create and collaborate. All pedagogical principles conveyed at the studio seek to assist performers in creating and maintaining sustainable and reliable performance practices.
Studio members can regularly be found onstage at all of Chicago’s theatrical and musical venues, on tour, on Broadway, onscreen through major streaming platforms, and playing live music venues dedicated to every genre across the world.
ABOUT MATTHEW ELLENWOOD
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Matthew is a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and has served on the Chicago NATS chapter's board of directors, and is also a member of VASTA (Voice and Speech Trainers Association), an associate member of PAVA (Pan American Vocology Association), MTEA (Musical Theatre Educators Alliance), ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA) where they currently serve as the chair of the DEI committee, and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS: Matthew holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Masters of Music degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University. Certifications include: Estill Master Trainer (EMT) through Estill Voice International (EVI), Alba Method Associate Teacher through the Alba Method Association (AMA), Michael Chekhov Acting Technique through Michael Chekhov Association International (MICHA). Matthew also has training in Knight-Thompson Speechwork.
INTEGRATED VOCAL PEDAGOGY: Matthew co-founded Integrated Vocal Pedagogy (IVP) with voice science researcher Kerrie Obert (M.A., C.C.C./S.L.P.) and Dr. David Hoffman (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). Though IVP has been dissolved as an organization, Kerrie, David, and Matthew still collaborate together to bring training to both performers and teachers integrating voice science, self-awareness and emotional regulation, acting, musicality, and performance practice into a cohesive whole.
OTHER INTERESTS: Matthew is a freelance vocal and musical director, pianist/conductor, and has served many professional artists and companies nationwide. As a lecturer, they have presented voice and musical theater workshops for universities, professional theatre companies, and at NATS, VASTA and PAVA events and conferences. Matthew is also a co-founder and the Artistic Director of Terra Mysterium performance troupe, where they happily compose all of the company’s music.