Matthew was brought up in Primrose Hill and still lives in the area. He was the winner of the Ricordi Conducting Prize and his work has received fine reviews in the national press: "Performance standards were high" (Opera Today); "The chorus delivered their contribution with intensity and conviction" (The Independent).

 

Choirs that he has conducted include the Glasgow University Chamber Choir, the professional Choir of Ealing Abbey, the Reading Festival Chorus and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society, and he was Chorus Master for the English Pocket Opera Company.  Matthew conducted the European première of Quest by George Crumb and was the Chorus Master for the British staged première of Goldschmidt's opera Beatrice Cenci at the Spitalfields Festival.  He has even taught choral singing to children in Nepal for two summers.

 

Matthew was described in the Ham & High as the "Gareth Malone of Primrose Hill", after founding the Primrose Hill Community Choir, Children's Choir and Primrose Hill Singers. The choirs have performed at choral festivals at the Roundhouse and South Bank Centre, and at venues including Camden Town Hall and the V&A museum.

 

Matthew studied at Glasgow University and Trinity College of Music, London, then furthered his conducting studies with Denise Ham from the Royal Academy of Music and singing studies with Lyndon Van Der Pump from the Royal College.  He was a Choral Scholar in Glasgow University Chapel Choir and at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square.  He also works as a singing and piano teacher.  Outside work he enjoys art, football and Lindy hop dancing.