Chris Matthews was born on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and grew up in farming family. He gravitated to music in the fifth grade when he took his first band class under David Steelman, where he played the clarinet and saxophone. He began taking piano lessons in early high school, and sold a cow to buy his first piano. While attending Arcadia High School he participated in Concert Band, Marching Band, All-Shore Band, District II Band, as well as the Armed Forces School of Music Honors Band at Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia.

In 2005, Matthews graduated with honors from Salisbury University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Education.

He has studied clarinet under the tutelages of Debbie Scott, Lisa Hibble, and Amy Sterling. He has been a member of the Salisbury Wind Ensemble, Salisbury Community Band, Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and is the director of the Accomack Community Band. 

He plans to pursue a Master's degree in Educational Psychology.  He is the proud parent of two girls, Savannah and Aria.  In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, being outside, fishing, reading, and computer programming.  (And music...naturally)