Matthew is a recent graduate of the BMus (Hons) course with First Class at the University of Aberdeen with a wealth of experience playing both classical and popular music. Since a young age, Matthew has developed his skills as an ensemble player both on Cello and Drum Kit.
Specialising in Orchestral playing, Matthew has performed with the University of Aberdeen’s Symphony and Chamber Orchestras – notably performing across Belgium with the Marischal Chamber Orchestra in Summer 2014. Additionally, he performed with Grampian Youth Orchestra at the Opening Ceremony of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in 2014. In the Summer of 2016, Matthew returned to Belgium (this time with the Universities of Scotland Symphony Orchestra) performing Dvorak Symphony No. 9 and also performed Sibelius Symphony No. 2 across Germany and the Netherlands with Grampian Youth Orchestra.
Within the University, Matthew is an active member of the Symphony and Chamber Orchestra Committee, having served as Orchestral Manager for both ensembles in the 2015-2016 academic session and been elected as President for both ensembles in the 2016-2017 session. Matthew is also relishing a new challenge of leading the cello section for both orchestras through their upcoming 2016-2017 programme.
In addition to Orchestral playing, Matthew is a competent pit musician having performed with several theatre companies within the Aberdeen area, on both cello and drum kit - most recently performing with Attic Theatre Company on drums in their production of The Little Shop of Horrors. In August 2016 Matthew, performed on cello as part of Captivate Theatre's production's of Oliver! and Les Misérables as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. Also at the Edinburgh Fringe, Matthew was involved in Green Day's: American Idiot with Car Crash Production's having been asked to perform the drum kit part.
Away from University and Orchestral ensembles, Matthew is also the drummer for “The Reel of Fortune Ceilidh Band” who regularly provide ceilidh entertainment for a variety of functions across Scotland and is also in demand as a session player, performing with several local bands, jazz quartets and singer-songwriters. His experiences of studying Music at the North-East of Scotland College prior to attending University have provided Matthew with invaluable experience as a recording musician in a wide variety of performance styles.
