About

Described by ‘Fanfare’ Magazine as ‘the finest violist since William Primrose’, Matthew enjoys a diverse career, equally at home as soloist or chamber musician performing classical or contemporary repertoire or giving fully improvised concerts. Recent performance venues include London’s Wigmore Hall and South Bank and a critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall recital debut in 2008.

He is violist of The Bridge Duo, the Debussy Ensemble and the Instrumental Quintet of London, was a member of the Badke String Quartet when they won the 2007 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, and is violinist in Ensemble MidtVest, an innovative chamber ensemble based in Denmark whose work includes classical and contemporary performance and recordings, improvisation and collaborations with other art forms.

Matthew has recorded sixteen CDs, including four for Naxos which include ‘Britten: Reflections’ with pianist Annabel Thwaite, named Chamber CD of the Month by BBC Music Magazine. Matthew is Senior Tutor of String Chamber Music and Professor of Viola at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, director of Pro Corda’s Intermediate Course, and Professor at the British Isles Music Festival. Matthew has commissioned numerous works and given many world and European premieres, and champions neglected viola works through recitals and recordings.

Matthew was a guest performer at the 2008 Menuhin Violin Competition and has given masterclasses in the USA (including Indiana and Cincinnati Universities), Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan and throughout Europe. Through his long-term involvement with the ‘Live Music Now!’ and ‘Lost Chord’ schemes, Matthew remains committed to outreach and community work.

Born in Swansea, Wales, Matthew is also a composer, mathematics graduate and teacher of the Alexander Technique and Kundalini Yoga. He gives workshops on empowering musicians and enhancing performance, clients of which have included world-renowned conductors and soloists, world champion athletes and orchestras including the New World Symphony, Melbourne Symphony and the European Union Youth Orchestra.