Matthew Hetz

Matthew Hetz (b. 1957) is a contemporary Californian composer. A native of Los Angeles, he began piano lessons at age 16, and began playing the violin at age 23. Hetz has composed works for solo instruments, songs, chorus, chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra, and a chamber opera. His works have been performed nationally, and recently his “Elegy for the Victims and Survivors of School Shootings,” was selected to be performed in a PARMA Recordings virtual concert, MOTO VITRUO II, by cellist Ovidiu Marinescu. Hetz is currently an instructor at Santa Monica College’s Emeritus program. He was the president and executive director of the Culver City Symphony Orchestra and Marina del Rey Symphony for 16 years, and plays in the Orchestra’s 2nd violin section. He was also a member of the West Los Angeles College Chamber Orchestra and the Dominguez Hills/Carson Symphony. The composer devotes himself to the causes of environmental and mass transit advocacy. Hetz is extremely grateful to PARMA Recordings for this recording of his Sarajevo Cellist.