Matthew Brown

Matthew Brown is an English composer and violist, born in 1985. He read music at Canterbury Christ Church University under Prof. Roderick Watkins and was later awarded a scholarship by the Richard Newitt and Radcliffe trusts to study for a Master of Music in Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music under Prof. Adam Gorb and Paul Patterson. In 2017, Matthew began a PhD in composition at RNCM, focusing on balancing idealism and pragmatism in wind orchestra composition, with Adam Gorb and Paul Patterson as his supervisors.

His works are regularly programmed across the UK and overseas with recent performance venues including Bridgewater Hall, Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room, 1901 Arts Club and Maida Vale Studios. Notable performances of works include Death Song (2012) for BBC Singers, Longing (2019), performed by Gwilym Simcock (piano), Rob Buckland (saxophone) and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and RNCM, Masquerade (2021) for Manchester Camerata, Coast (2021) for BBC Philharmonic and Feeling Free (2023) which was premiered by the RAF Concert Band and has since been published by Universal Edition. Els Encantats (2022) for wind band is published by Hafabra Music.

Matthew's compositional style is mostly tonal, yet explores the use of harmony and textures within a fresh and contemporary idiom. His soundworlds range from dark and subdued, expansive and lush, to alight with energy. Many of his most recent works have been influenced by world music, dance music and jazz. Matthew is also heavily influenced by his chromesthesia, which means that he is able to 'see' music in colour, for which he associates each pitch with its own unique shade.

“Matthew’s subtle orchestration and sensitive changes of texture are beguiling.” (conductor Peter Bassano, 2017)

Please see www.matthewbrowncomposer.co.uk for more details.