Opera • Original Music • Storytelling
Matthew Cerillo is an Italian-American tenor whose vibrant lyric voice, effortless upper extension, and dynamic stage presence have brought him to some of opera's most distinguished training programs and performance venues. A native of Freehold, New Jersey, he made his Lincoln Center solo debut at the age of 24 and has since appeared with companies including Palm Beach Opera, Music Academy of the West, Portland Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, and Teatro Grattacielo.
Most recently, Matthew made his role debut as Little Bat in Susannah with St. Petersburg Opera and returned to Palm Beach Opera as a Bailey Apprentice Artist for the 2025–2026 season, covering Borsa in Rigoletto and study covering Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles. During the previous season, he performed Giuseppe in La traviata, covered Gastone and Benvolio in Roméo et Juliette, and appeared as a featured soloist in numerous concerts and gala performances.
A passionate advocate for both traditional and contemporary repertoire, Matthew has performed alongside celebrated artists including Lawrence Brownlee, Lisette Oropesa, and Angel Blue. As a Lehrer Fellow at the Music Academy of the West, he joined Brownlee in the acclaimed recital Uprising/Rising Up and performed in productions of Carmen and L'Enfant et les Sortilèges. He has also appeared as Don José with Teatro Grattacielo and the Athens Philharmonia, made his New York cabaret debut with An Evening with Matthew Cerillo at Don't Tell Mama, and collaborated directly with composer Missy Mazzoli in the workshop development of The Listeners.
Matthew was a semi-finalist in both the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition and the Washington International Competition, a finalist in the Giulio Gari Foundation International Vocal Competition, and a third-place winner of the National Opera Association's Carolyn Bailey Vocal Competition. He holds a Master of Music degree from the Mannes School of Music, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a Bachelor of Science in Voice with honors from Hofstra University.
Beyond the operatic stage, Matthew is also a songwriter, producer, and recording artist. His music blends rock, electronic, and classical influences to explore themes of resilience, self-discovery, and personal transformation.