Matthew Frances Erinson
Born: July 2, 1979
Parents: Kent Erinson (Father), Ilene Erinson (Mother)
Siblings: Anastasia Erinson-Michels
Spouse: Ian Schaefer
Children: Patrick Schaefer-Erinson, Natalie Schaefer-Erinson
Gallery: Schaefer Family Album
Bio: Matthew is the youngest son of Kent and Ilene Erinson. Born and raised in a musical family, it was inevitable that he would take up an instrument. Matthew’s instrument of choice is the violin. His father plays the saxophone and his mother is a concert pianist. His sister, Anastasia, plays the harp and the flute. Matthew was something of a child prodigy on the violin and the family moves around the country so that he can study with all of the great violin teachers in the nation. His mother, being a world renowned pianist, often plays as a guest member of numerous orchestras throughout the country as well. Matthew grew up attending her concerts and dreaming of joining a symphony orchestra. His favorite of the orchestras his mother played with was the Gotham Symphony Orchestra. It was the one he dreamed of joining some day.
He settles in Denver at the age of 30 and joins the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. He was voted first chair after a year of performing. It wasn’t his dream job, but he enjoyed it. In late 2011, Matthew is out with some friends, celebrating the beginning of the holiday performing season, when he meets Ian Schaefer. He wasn’t looking to fall in love, and Ian was nothing of what he was looking for, but something about Ian spoke to his heart and the two began dating and quickly fell in love. Ian, however, had yet to come out to his family. It took Matthew several months of gentle encouragement before Ian finally told his family he was gay and in a relationship.
Ian and Matthew date for another three months before moving in together. But in 2013, things change. Matthew becomes discontented with the new maestro of the orchestra and begins searching for a new one. Thinking he was having an affair, Ian breaks up with him and moves back home with his parents. In 2014, Matthew receives an invitation to play for the City of Chicago Orchestra, but can’t leave Ian behind. Ian realizes he still loves Matthew as well and the two reconcile and marry in 2014.
Matthew plays in Chicago until 2017, when the pair moves to Los Angeles because Matthew joins the orchestra there. In LA, the couple make the life-changing decision to become a ‘family’ and adopt their first child Patrick Lawson Schaefer-Erinson. In 2019, they move to Atlanta where Matthew joins the Atlanta Met Orchestra, but they don’t stay there long.
Unexpectedly, Matthew receives an invitation to join the Gotham Symphony Orchestra. It’s been his lifelong dream to join the orchestra in Gotham, and Ian has family there, so moving to Gotham is a no brainer. In 2021, they adopt a daughter, Natalie Monique Schaefer-Erinson. Once in Gotham, Matthew and Ian settle in and Matthew has no desire to travel or join other orchestras. When he isn’t playing with the orchestra, he gives private violin lessons and becomes one of the most coveted teachers in the New York/New Jersey area.
