Matthew’s wide and varied professional musical career started when prompted to enter a composition competition by his Professor of Composition, Alan Bullard. The competition was organized by SPNM(Society for the Promotion of New Music), a foundation started in 1943 then later to become the Sound and Music organization as it is today. Matthew’s composition was shortlisted and Matthew became one of the six composers chosen to attend a weeklong master class with Hollywood and Oscar nominated composer, Michael Kamen. It was fate that played the next hand as Kamen was unable to fulfill the post due to his commitments with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Award winning composer Barrington Pheloung stepped in and upon completion of the competition offered Matthew a job as his assistant and studio manager, cementing a relationship that has spanned the last fifteen years and continues to this day. Matthew has worked as Pheloung’s orchestrator and the provision of music preparation services on globally recognised productions such as Inspector Morse (John Thaw, Kevin Whately),Lewis (Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox), Hillary and Jackie (Emily Watson, Charles Dance), And When Did You Last See Your Father (Jim Broadbent) andIncendiary (Ewan McGregor) to name but a few.
During his time with Pheloung, Matthew had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s greatest orchestras such as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Scottish Royal National Orchestra, The Phillharmonia and many sessions with London’s leading media orchestra, The London Metropolitan. This opportunity allowed Matthew to experience the art of orchestration and composition first hand with some of the worlds finest players, mentored by Pheloung. Working with Pheloung brought Matthew experiences as wide and varied as collaborating with Björn Ulveaus and Benny Andersson from ABBA on early Mamma Mia workshops to performing with the RPO during sessions at Air Studios for Hillary and Jackie. Matthew also had the opportunity to arrange and conduct Gustav Holst’s The Planets suite for a 32 piece orchestra live on set, featured in the Dark Matterepisode of Lewis, Season 4.
Whilst Matthew was assisting Pheloung with his scores, he was also forging his own career as an artist and performer in the world of dance music. Driven by his interest in electronic music and the creation of sound, Matthew explored the world of dance through successful progressive house label, Intrinsic Records. Whilst signed to Intrinsic, Matthew wrote over 40 singles that procured licensing deals from The Ministry of Sound, Renaissance, Global Underground andBedrock. Matthew acquired international DJ support from the likes of Sasha, John Digweed, Paul Oakenfold and Nick Warren. Regular radio plays included BBC Radio One and Kiss FM.
It was at this point that Matthew decided to combine his skills of electronic production and traditional orchestration and enter the world of media composition; film music being a passion of Matthew’s since first hearing the scores of Goldsmith,Williams, Steiner and Elfman as a child.
Matthew started his journey in composition arranging orchestral parts for Sitting Duck Music and Media, working on projects as diverse as Connie Talbot’s (Britain’s Got Talent finalist) debut album, for which Matthew was award aBPI Gold Disc in recognition of sales, to composing tracks for Arsenal, Manchester City and Celtic football club official albums. From this Matthew went on to work extensively with the Solaris Quartet, resulting in four commissions from the quartet for concert works performed throughout the UK. During this time Matthew started a collaboration with award winning director Chris Dundon, scoring all of Chris’ short films to date. Bro has been recognised at film festivals internationally, also being selected for the BBC’s film network platform. Matthew recently scored Ellie, directed by Chris, to be screened internationally during 2011.
Mathew’s music preparation work started to gain interest from other producers and composers. Matthew was engaged to work with Grammy award winning producer, Steve McLaughlin on the Dutch film, White Light composed by Nick Laird-Clowes. Through a veteran of music preparation, Jill Streaterof Global Music Preparation, Matthew has helped prepare scores for films such as James Bond: Quantum of Solace, Chronicles of Narnia: Dawn Treaderand with another stalwart of music preparation, Vic Fraser on a Harold Kloser project amongst other engagements.
In 2009 Matthew was signed to Accorder Music Publishing. It was this relationship that was to propel Matthew forward in to composition for TV. Through Accorder Matthew started work with respected UK production company, Touch Productions. Matthew has since scored Love In Numbers and Tattoo School for Discovery and Animal Planet through his relationship with Touch. 2011 has seen Matthew forge a relationship with Icon Films in three, one hour programmes for the BBC on the cadets training to be officers at the Royal Sandhurst Military Academy.
Matthew has also worked with the Imperial War Museum, The Solaris Quartet, The Royal Philharmonic Society and Classic FM on the IWM 2009 Composers Competition. Matthew recorded and produced the winning entries, also chairing the winners’ selection panel made up of Colin Matthews(Composer), John Brunning (Classic FM presenter) and Angela Godwin (DGO of The Imperial War Museum).
During 2010 and 2011 Matthew worked extensively on production music. Universal Group owned company FirstCom commissioned Matthew to compose a 14 track Documentary Drama album for their Evo imprint, employing a live brass section for the recording. Through US agency Music By Design, Matthew has also had commissions from boutique label, Sonic Quiver for a Dramatic Piano album, Cinematic String Quartet album, performed by the Solaris Quartet, and most recently a large jazz based album, Nu Jazz Frontiers that saw Matthew conducting a 17 piece jazz orchestra at Angel Studios with the London Media Ensemble. Matthew has also seen album commissions from Fox International and the well-known and respected music library De Wolfe, brokered by established composer agency DNA.
In 2011 Matthew was selected by the Association of Music Producers of America to compose a piece set in response to muse material provided by advertising leading figure David Lubars from BBDO. Matthew performed with cellist,Nicholas Allen, at the well-known Le Poison Rouge venue in Greenwich Village, New York City. This project was the first collaboration between Matthew, singer/song writer Brian Burrows and Music By Design.
Matthew is married with 3 wonderful children.
