Concert Programme
Biographies
The following tailored biographies may be used for programme notes and other promotional purposes with permission. Bespoke notes can be provided upon request.
Composition
Matthew Holmes (b. 1997) is a British composer, freelance musician, and academic based in Oxford. He holds a BMus (Hons) degree in Composition from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2019), where he studied composition under Dr. Oliver Searle, where, in his 4th year he became the first composer-in-residence with the RCS Brass Department; and an MMus degree in Composition and Musicology from the Royal Northern College of Music (2021) where he studied under Prof. Adam Gorb, Gary Carpenter, Paul Patterson, and Simon Clarke, and was a finalist in the college's Gold Medal Competition. He is currently a postgraduate researcher at the RNCM in the third year of a PhD on the late symphonies of Robert Simpson, under the supervision of Dr Annika Forkert and Prof. Nicholas Reyland.
Matthew has had works played by various ensembles including: the RedNote Ensemble, players from the London Sinfonietta, RNCM Brand New Orchestra, The Llinyn Quartet, Spires Quartet, St. Anne’s Camerata, a variety of ensembles from RCS, RNCM and Cambridge University, and the Oxfordshire Festival Orchestra – of which Matthew was a founding member with friend and conductor Edward Liebrecht in 2014.
Piano/Accompaniment
Matthew is a versatile, Oxford-based freelance musician, composer, academic and private piano teacher, and is currently a third year postgraduate researcher at the Royal Northern College of Music, pursuing a PhD on the late symphonies of Robert Simpson. He is the regular rehearsal accompanist for the Oxford University Press Choir, recently performing at the choir's 40th anniversary concert, and plays regularly in a variety of contexts, including for Shotover Singers, singer and conductor, Benedict Goodall, and the upcoming Circle Music release 'Sing We!'.
Singer
Matthew is a freelance musician, composer, and academic who sings regularly as a low choral bass in choirs around Oxford, including newCHOIR, Shotover Singers, and at the parish churches, St. Michael and All Angels, Summertown and St. Margaret's Church, Oxford. Alongside his regular choirs, he often 'bumps' local choirs, such as the Oxford University Press Choir (for whom he is also rehearsal accompanist), Mansfield College Chapel Choir, and Summertown and Cumnor Choral Societies. A recent recording project sees him feature on the upcoming Circle Music release, 'Sing We!'.
Trumpet
Matthew is an Oxford-based freelance musician, composer, and academic. He grew up playing trumpet through the Oxfordshire County Music reaching principle trumpet with the county youth orchestra (OCYO), brass ensemble (OYBE) and big band (OYBB). He has also performed in pit bands for amateur and semi-professional theatre groups in Oxford, such as RicNic and OYMT Since then, Matthew went on to study with the principle trumpet of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Peter Franks, as a second study (alongside composition) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (grad. 2019). Now, Matthew often performs alongside choirs and at remembrance day services/events. Recent performances include: the Chipping Norton Choral Society's Platinum Jubilee concert, RVW's 'Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge' with newCHOIR, and the Vivaldi Gloria at the Oxford University Press Choir's 40th Anniversary Concert. He is also featured on the upcoming Circle Music release, 'Sing We!'.
