Director of College Counseling Matt Lane currently applies his passion for singing to the Golden Gate Men’s Chorus.

What began as a childhood habit of singing along to songs at home has grown into a lifelong pursuit that continues alongside his work supporting students in the college application process.

“My mom says I would sing even when I was a toddler,” Lane said. “She noticed that I picked up melodies really quickly.”

Lane grew up in Westport, Connecticut, where he attended Staples High School, a public school known for its strong arts programs. There, he became deeply involved in music, performing in musicals, choir and an a cappella group.

“In high school I kind of took my interests to a new level,” Lane said. “There were so many opportunities to sing.”

Though he never formally studied singing as a child, his love for harmonies and vocal music kept him involved throughout high school and college. At Boston College, Lane sang in the university choir and joined an a cappella group during his first semester — an experience that shaped both his friendships and his future.

“I met some of my closest friends through singing,” Lane said. “I even met my husband through choir in college.”

Lane moved to San Francisco in 2013 after accepting a job offer from Branson and soon sought out a local choir where he could continue performing. He eventually joined the Golden Gate Men’s chorus, a roughly 40-member ensemble that performs classical choral music from a wide range of cultures and historical periods.

The choir rehearses weekly and prepares for two major concerts each year, typically a holiday performance in December and a spring concert. Their repertoire spans centuries of choral music and includes pieces in many languages.

“I think I’ve probably sung in over 15 languages,” Lane said. “It’s music from all over the world.”

Unlike professional ensembles, the singers in the Golden Gate Men’s Chorus are volunteers who rehearse together purely out of passion for music. Members range in age from their twenties to their seventies, creating a diverse community united by a shared love of singing. For Lane, choir has always provided more than just music. 

“It’s been a place where I found confidence,” he said. “It’s also been about community, friendship and joy.” 

Lane says his experiences in the arts have influenced the way he works with students today. He often attends student performances and encourages students to continue pursuing creative passions even as they focus on academics and college admissions.

“I’m a big believer that the arts are important for learning and your soul,” Lane said. “If students are finding joy in it, they should stick with it.”

Students who have attended Lane’s performances say the experience reveals another side of the college counselor they see on campus. Charley Goldstein ’26 attended one of Lane’s holiday concerts and was struck by both the quality of the music and the sense of community among the performers.

“My expectations were that it was going to be great,” Goldstein said, “but it was even better than I imagined. He’s such a talented singer, and the whole performance was really beautiful.”

For Lane, continuing to sing is a reminder that the arts can remain a meaningful part of life long after high school and college.

“You don’t have to make the arts your career to keep them in your life,” Lane said. “It can be something you carry with you forever.”