Matthew Brown composer / arranger

Matthew Brown is a composer and violist, born in 1985 in Canterbury, England. He trained as a chef in Thanet College, specialising in Patisserie and Confectionary. Matthew then began to study for a music degree at Canterbury Christ Church University, focusing on composition under Prof. Roderick Watkins. After graduating in 2010, he was 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, which he completed in 2013. In 2017, Matthew began a PhD in composition at RNCM, focusing on balancing idealism and pragmaticism in wind orchestra composition, with Adam Gorb and Paul Patterson as his and wind ensembles, which lead to performances by wind orchestras from the University of Leeds, the University of Bristol and the London Consorts of Winds. In addition to wind orchestra composition, Matthew has written extensively for viola, viola ensemble, symphony orchestra and string orchestra. His music has also been performed by the City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Oare String Orchestra. In 2019, Matthew wrote a short classical and jazz fusion piece for orchestra, leading to a performance by Gwilym Simcock (piano), Rob Buckland (saxophone) and players from RNCM and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. During the same year, two of Matthew’s compositions for string quartet received performances by the Sacconi Quartet at Folkestone Harbour. Most recently, Matthew wrote Coast for a performance by members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Masquerade for players from RNCM and Manchester Camerata.