Matthew Harrison - Music Director

Hailing from Cwmbran, Matthew studied his GCSEs and A levels at Llantarnam Comprehensive School specialising in music with Tracey King Thomas. Being the only student in his year to choose an A Level in music, he attended further music studies here in Risca, at Crosskeys College. This often meant missing some A level history lessons back at Llantarnam, much to the despair of his teachers there!

Matthew holds a First Class Honours Degree and a dual specialism Masters Degree from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and received scholarships from the Leonard and Marian Jones Scholarship, the South Square Scholarship, the Tillet Trust and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Scholarship. 

He studied bassoon with Meyrick Alexander, former principal of the Philharmonia Orchestra, London, Jarek Augustinyak, principal bassoon of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Steve Marsden principal bassoon with the Welsh National Opera, contrabassoon with Christopher Vale, Welsh National Opera, and saxophone with Lara James.   

Outside of his studies Matthew enjoys a varied career as a multi-instrumentalist. Most recently he has performed on tour with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra, made recordings for BBC Radio 3, taken part in the final of the Ian Stoutzker Prize, joined the Bath Festival Orchestra and performed the Gordon Jacob bassoon concerto with the Royal Welsh College Wind Orchestra.

Aside from this, Matthew is also an award winning conductor, taking first prize at the Layton Watkins Memorial Award for Conducting. The award was presented by Huw Tregelles Williams and Morriston RFC Male Choir on behalf of the Welsh Association of Male Choirs.

Matthew’s interest in male choirs began when he was heard by the MD of Cwmbran Male Choir performing on the piano and bassoon for a school production of Oliver. He was later invited to take over the post of accompanist with Cwmbran Male Choir.

Interestingly, he was having bassoon lessons at the time with Martin Bowen, former principal second bassoon of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. It so happened that he was the first bassoonist to play in the pit orchestra for the West End production of Oliver!

Previously Matthew has held conducting posts with Cwmbran Male Choir, Pontypool Male Choir, Bargoed Male Voice Choir, and founded the newly formed Torfaen Male Choir. 

As a composer Matthew has written a collection of diverse works, including for the Royal Welsh Chamber Winds Ensemble, the Atmospheres Festival and the Band of The Welsh Guards. Most recently Matthew was commissioned by the National Museum, Cardiff, to compose part of the soundtrack to accompany the museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.