Dear Friends,

Greetings, and thank you for coming to my site. Herewith, a belated update and preview.

For the last couple years I've taken time off from the 'road' to write, feeling that for the moment the best way to make my own small contribution to the cause of peace in the Middle East might be to sha re my experiences in Israel and Palestine, performing in refugee camps, schools, universities, meeting with a wide variety of people on both sides, committed to peace, teaching in Palestine and spending time on the streets of East Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. Now I am charting the peculiar terrain of the publishing world on behalf of my book Under the Same Sun.

In this same period of being 'grounded,' I've also written book one of an autobiography, Palma Ceia Village, and recently the libretto for my opera The City of Saint Francis, dedicated to the homeless in San Francisco. My opera grew out of a period last summer, spent walking the streets of the Tenderloin with the San Francisco Night Ministry. Performing at San Quentin prison led to writing Ain't Gonna Serve No Time No More, for cello and spoken word, which I had the opportunity to perform for the inmates of San Quentin. Desert Poems and Palestine Poems, also for cello and spoken word, were written for performances in Israel and Palestine. Lie Down Beside Me (cello and spoken word) was written for a concert in Berkeley last spring and included my first-ever set of love poems. Aside from that I've managed a number of assorted poems, essays, and short stories and I've continued to paint, but have kept out of galleries, preferring, these days, to sell from my studio.

It has been rewarding to put my cello to work in support of causes here at home, whether for the Middle East Children's Alliance, or for various events sponsored by KPFA, our local free-speech radio station.

On Saturday, April 5, I performed my new composition for Solo Cello "Let Me Stand Alone" in an event honoring Rachel Corrie, who was run over and killed by a bulldozer when she attempted to stop Israeli soldiers from d emolishing a family home in Rafah, Gaza. She was a volunteer for International Solidarity Movement, and 23 years old.

For the year ahead I expect to be hours and days at my favorite East Bay cafes -- FatApples and Saul's -- writing the score to my opera, to be interrupted next fall by a concert tour on the East Coast, and in the following spring by a return to Russia and the Middle East.

My students are wonderful and I'm pleased to report the achievements of three young professionals: Erica Mulkey has produced her third CD, Blossoms; Merlin Coleman, her second CD, Schoolhouse of Lost Teeth; and Diane Louie is preparing a recital including my cello sonata! It has been a pleasure to find other cellists perform my music, such as the wonderful New York cellist, Nick Anderson, and recently a young cellist from Wales, Clare Pusey.

I should like to add that all of the above literary works could never have blossomed without the help of my dear friend and typist, who lives in L.A. and likes to go by the name of "Opsie."

Well, so long for now, and I'll try to keep up a little better in future. I wish you all joy, peace, and creativity!

--Matthew