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Dr Matt Allen

Lecturer

Staff Member Details
Telephone: +61 8 6304 8224
Email: matthew.allen@ecu.edu.au
Campus: Mount Lawley  
Room: ML3.271  
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5426-6881

Matt is the Academic Coordinator of Contemporary Music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Current teaching

W76 - Bachelor of Music

  • MUS1471 - Contemporary Principal Study 1
  • MUS1341 - Ensemble Studies 1
  • MUS1472 - Contemporary Principal Study 2
  • MUS1342 - Ensemble Studies 2
  • MUS2473 - Contemporary Principal Study 3
  • MUS2343 - Ensemble Studies 3
  • MUS2474 - Contemporary Principal Study 4
  • MUS2344 - Ensemble Studies 4
  • MUS3365 - Jazz and Contemporary Principal Study 5
  • MUS3345 - Ensemble Studies 5
  • MUS3366 - Jazz and Contemporary Principal Study 6
  • MUS3346 - Ensemble Studies 6

L66 - Bachelor of Music

  • MUS4421 - Contemporary Principal Study 7
  • MUS4406 - Contemporary Ensemble 7
  • MUS4411 - Extension Study 7
  • MUS4424 - Contemporary Principal Study 8
  • MUS4414 - Contemporary Ensemble 8
  • MUS4419 - Extension Study 8

K35 - Bachelor of Music Honours

  • MUS4111 - Principal Practice Preparation
  • MUS4213 - Research Preparation
  • MUS4114 - Principal Practice Project
  • MUS4116 - Research Project

Background

Matt is a professional singer gigging regularly on the Australian music scene having worked with Melonie Daniels-Walker (Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin), Melissa Erpen (Ellie Goulding, Royal Blood), Christine Anu, Guy Sebastian, Tina Arena, Damien Leith, Helen Shanahan, Rachel Claudio, MEG MAC, Drapht, Coin Banks, Mama Kin Spender among many more.

He has toured nationally and internationally with notable performances at Canadian Music Week, Americana Festival, as well as tours throughout the UK, New York and Singapore. Matt also lived in London, UK and worked at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) at Falmouth University and continued to expand his performance and artistic portfolio having worked on BBC and with Sony by top-line songwriting and recording for dance artists.

Matt is the founder and director of one of WAAPA’s flagship ensembles, the WAAPA Gospel Choir and prior to his appointment as the Academic Coordinator, he was the head of Contemporary Voice where he spearheaded the growth of the department to over 90 singers strong.

Matt has recently completed his PhD which focuses on the physiology of R&B/soul belting and hopes to build upon this research to have an impact in the pedagogy and teaching of belt in Contemporary singing. He has also presented as an expert panellist for the Australian Voice Association and given papers at conferences for the Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS) and the Musicological Society of Australia (MSA).

Professional associations

  • 2024 - Australian National Association of Teachers of Singing (ANATS)

Research areas and interests

  • singing
  • voice science
  • singing pedagogy

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2024.
  • TAE40116 CERTIV in Training & Assessment, Australia, 2022.
  • Bachelor Of Music (Contemporary), Edith Cowan University, 2010.
  • Advanced Diploma of Music (Contemporary), Edith Cowan University, 2008.
  • Certificate IV in Music (Classical), Edith Cowan University, 2005.

Research Outputs

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Allen, M. (2018). WAAPA Gospel Choir Arrangements for Signed Sealed Delivered: The Music of Stevie Wonder & Aretha Franklin with the Perth Symphony Orchestra. The Astor Theatre.

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Allen, M. (2017). WAAPA Gospel Choir Arrangements for Faith & Freedom: The Music Of George Michael with the Perth Symphony Orchestra. The Astor Theatre.

Creative Arts Research Outputs

  • Allen, M., Shanahan, H., Luebbers, J., Smith, E., Southwell, J. (2014). Helen Shanahan at Canadian Music Week. Rivoli.
  • Allen, M., Shanahan, H. (2014). Helen Shanahan at the Americana Festival. Blue Bar, Nashville, United States.

Research Student Supervision

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Contemporary cross-genre vocal training for musical theatre performers and vocal teachers: An investigation into producing the vocal characters in contemporary singing for the modern musical theatre performer
  • Master of Arts (Performing Arts), A practical survey of industry professional R&B vocalists to define a framework for sustainability within this style.
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