I thought of Matt the other day. We were great friends in college – both performers in the Singing Hoosiers (think Glee, but in college). I can hear his booming bass voice to this day.

Just this past Saturday, there was a note online that it was actor Michael Caine’s 93rd birthday. There was a story about how he and Quincy Jones, working together on The Italian Job movie, suddenly realized they were born on the same day – making them celestial twins.

Just like Matt and me, I thought. I should look him up.

Unfortunately, in the nearly half a century (gulp!) since we both graduated (same age, right?), we had not stayed in touch.

When I googled 5/19/1958 along with the name Matthew Lau, the top result was enough to make me cry. Just six months ago, Matt passed away.

Looking for details online, I found newsclips with reviews of his career as an opera singer. God bless him, he achieved his dream!

But let’s start at the beginning. Matthew Lau (rhymes with “ow”) was born in Michigan City, Indiana (way up north, by Chicago). He was the middle of five children.

Here’s a sweet yearbook photo from his sophomore year at Elston High School.

Matt played the viola. He received a music scholarship to Indiana University, which is where we met. He sat a few rows behind me in Singing Hoosiers rehearsals every afternoon for four years.

Here’s a portion of the 120-voice group. This Singing Hoosiers tour photo was from 1978, I think.

Where’s Matt? He’s in the front row, fourth from the left. In the leisure suit, so stylish back in the ’70s. I’m in the row behind him, slightly to the right. You can’t tell it from this photo, but my celestial twin and I also had matching eye color and the same shade of brunette hair.

We were all opera singers when it came to Carmen. Whenever IU’s Opera Department performed Carmen, the Singing Hoosiers provided the chorus.

Here’s a photo I took of Matt and fellow Singing Hoosier Karen Sterchi, who was also from Michigan City.

After we all went our separate ways following graduation, Matt continued his training at the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a Master’s in Vocal Performance and Literature. By this time, Matt knew he was destined for the opera stage.

Off to New York City!

Based in the Big Apple, Matt’s career took him all over the country, from Seattle to Chicago, from Philadelphia to Atlanta. St. Louis, Anchorage – you name it, our opera singer was on stage performing.

From Matt’s YouTube channel, here’s a clip with him performing as Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola.

I recognize that booming voice all these years later. Even when he was just talking or laughing, Matt sang.

I just know my poet mother would have liked her “two moons” poem to be included in this tribute:

two moons

so long ago
the two moons over Rome in summer
one for life
and one for opera
which was the real moon

here in Connecticut
the sky flows into sea
and by night raises a moon
one moon
but life is an opera now
and I still cannot tell
the moon it is

~ joan vayo ~ July 30, 1987

Here’s a photo from a June 2004 Gazette newspaper article about the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre’s staging – in Italian – of The Marriage of Figaro:

Matt is featured on the Grammy Award-winning album of the Elmer Gantry opera that premiered in 2007. Two 2012 Grammy Awards, actually, for recordings of the opera as it was performed in 2010.

After nearly 30 years of touring, Matt tried his hand at teaching. He was an associate professor at Simpson College in Iowa for a dozen or so years. Teaching, coaching voice, and no doubt laughing with that booming voice, showing students a career as an opera singer was not just possible, but endless fun.

Sing with the angels, my celestial twin. I’m so glad to have known you.

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“two moons” ©1987  Joan C. Vayo. All rights reserved.

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