Omari Matthews | Staff Portrait

Public Safety

Public Safety officer Omari Matthews arrived at Juilliard in August 2018 after serving in the U.S. Army, where his specialty was infantry and transportation. While he spent his early years in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, he hasn’t been back since his family left when he was young, but he’s hoping to next year. Perhaps not surprisingly for someone who’s passionate about helping people, he’d love to start a nonprofit organization there to help kids learn about different types of music. He’s also a visual artist—he started high school at Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn in a program that specialized in visual art and architecture, though he later switched to the Erasmus Hall High School complex so he could play more football.

When did you end up coming to the U.S.?
When I was 8, I came here with my mother, my older sister, and my younger sister and brother. We stayed in Miami for about a month and then we came to Brooklyn, and I’ve been in New York ever since. The rest of my family still lives in Flatbush and I now live in Bushwick, the artists’ neighborhood.

What might people be surprised to know about you?
I’ve been in the New York Post and other newspapers for high school football. I also hold the Erasmus Hall High School record for the longest touchdown pass thrown—it was 86 yards against Dewitt Clinton High School.

When did you start playing football?
Pretty much as soon as I got off the plane when we came here.

What’s your favorite NFL team?
The Giants or the Jets—whoever’s winning!

Do you still paint?
A little bit—it’s a great way to wind down and relax.

What’s been one of your favorite days here so far?
My favorite day has to be when I saw Yo-Yo Ma perform a piece by Bach in the June Noble Larkin lobby last year and I escorted him in and out of the school. He made jokes and was a down-to-earth guy.

If, out of the blue, your boss said to take the day off, what would you do with your free time?
I’d have a recording studio session and meet up with some musicians to work on music and make magic.

What other pursuits are you passionate about?
Helping people, cooking, working out at the gym, writing music, travel, and fashion.

If you could have any meal, prepared by anyone, what would it be?
If I had to choose any meal, it would be a dish called callaloo, prepared by my mother. It’s a popular Caribbean vegetable dish and there are many variants across the Caribbean, depending on the availability of local vegetables.

What are you reading?
The last book I read was 1984 by George Orwell—and I recommend that everyone read it.

Is there anything you’d like to add?
I write music under the alias Swell Mclovin, so if you’re into hip-hop check it out. I’m also working on a project where most of the songs are produced by current or former Juilliard students.