Matthew Gonder
Franco-American bi-lingual author/composer/actor/singer/dancer living in Paris
 
Biography
© 2010
all rights reserved
 
MATTHEW GONDER is a Franco-American who has lived in Paris for the past thirty years. Originally from Washington state, he performed in many local theater productions playing the roles of: Simon Stimson in “Our Town”, Mordred in “Camelot”, Matt in “The Fanasticks”, Mortimer in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and performed in the revue “The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as seen through the Eyes of Cole Porter”, to name a few shows. He studied ballet with Karen Irvin and jazz with Joni Metcalf at The Cornish Schol of the Arts in Seattle. At 19, he hopped onto a Greyound bus, and three days and nights later found himself in New York City. There, he was awarded scholarships to dance at the Joffrey and Harkness Schools of Ballet and also sang with the Symphony of the New World Choir at Carnegie Hall. Parallel to these activities, he studied writing for the Musical Theater at the New School for Social Research and Columbia University. His first recording contract took him to Belgium, where the 45 single “T.V.’s OK” preceeded his number 1 disco hit “Der Kommissar”. In Paris, he returned to the theater in the Annie Cordy hit musical “Envoyez la Musique”. He performed in many Parisian jazz clubs: The Hollywood Savoy, Les bouchons, Nostalgie, Le Crillon, Le Petit Journal, Le Plaza Athénée, among many others. Matthew was the featured singer with Gerard Badini and his big band “Le Super Swing Machine”. All the while, he has recorded songs for many pop producers and acted in TV shows and commercials: “Mafioso, le Clan”, “Antar”, “Alcatel”, “Thalys”, “Serenity Life”. He has sung publicity jingles for radio stations, dubbed voices for many major films, got big roles in short films; Grace in “Poisoned Ink”, smaller roles in big films; Merry Man voice in “Shrek”, Alex in “Madame Irma”, has been a guest artist on numerous recordings, entertained on cruise ships, participated in events at Eurodisneyland, created the role of Pierre in the musical “Le Manège” at the Opéra Comique in Paris, played an American Gigolo in “Dali Folies” at the Espace Pierre Cardin, played Major Doctor Blanco in the Châtelet’s production of “Magdalena”...and the list is endless.
© 2012
all rights reserved