Matthew Zachary was a 21-year old college senior and aspiring concert pianist and composer en route to film school to become a Hollywood film composer when he slowly lost use of his left hand, was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer (medulloblastona) and told he'd likely never perform again. Eleven years, four albums and scores of concerts later, Matthew's struggle to get busy living has inspired countless thousands.

Today, Matthew is an award-winning musician and composer, accredited thought-leader in public health, a leading authority on the youth cancer culture, a highly credentialed and coveted motivational speaker, and a burgeoning social entrepreneur as the founder and executive director of The I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation, a TIME Magazine-ranked Best 50 Website for 2007.

Matthew is a passionate, spirited and often controversial rabble-rouser with over 200 speaking engagements and concert performances under his young belt. He not only touches and inspires audiences with a uniquely inspiring and powerfully authentic message of hope, but he challenges them to engage in forward dialogue, question complacency and think differently about their existing perceptions of life, health and personal empowerment. When Matthew takes the stage, his audiences enjoy a powerful and unique opportunity to embrace the potency of their own humanity and gain new beliefs about what is possible in life. He transforms the ordinary keynote address into an extraordinary experience through the perfect fusion of passion, energy, fun, enthusiasm and proven real-life concepts. His style involves good stories with well-expressed ideas, insightful perspectives and practical messages that educate empower and inspire.

Matthew has 14 years of experience in advertising, marketing, information technology and visual communications for print and web. In addition to serving as an advisor on the prestigious Google Health Advisory Council, his portfolio also includes expertise in visual communications for print/web, cause-branding, public relations, consumer healthcare, nonprofit management and social media. Matthew has won several industry awards and has been recognized internationally for his innovations as a visionary trend influencer and change agent who has always been ahead of his time. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Matthew holds an interdisciplinary BA from the State University of New York at Binghamton that combined the music, theater, computer science, and sociology disciplines.

"A peace healer."
– Deepak Chopra, M.D.

"Inspirational!"
– Dr. Bernie Siegel

"Soothing and joyous."
– American Cancer Society

"Music that creates an environment of peace and solitude for cancer patients and their families who are struggling to get through the rough times."
– Oncolink.org