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Matthew Jones (musician)

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Matthew Jones

Matthew Jones (classical musician) (b.1974 in Swansea, Wales) is a British violist and violinist primarily known for his international performance work as a concert orchestra soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He also holds two music Professorships and runs an in-demand performance health consultancy practice. He is fluent in Italian.

Biography

Matthew began studying violin at the age of five. After graduating with a first class degree in mathematics from the University of Warwick, he studied violin at the Royal College of Music in London and viola privately with violist Rivka Golani.

Performing career

Hailed by The Strad magazine [1] magazine as "a worthy successor to Lionel Tertis" and winner of the prize for the most promising British entrant at the 2003 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, Matthew is violist of the Bridge Duo (viola and piano), the Debussy Ensemble (flute, viola and harp) and violinist with Ensemble MidtVest (an innovative ten-piece ensemble based in Denmark). He can frequently be seen performing in major international concert venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall in London, Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and Carnegie Hall where he made his critically acclaimed US recital debut [2] in 2008.

Matthew has commissioned numerous works and given many world and European premieres, and champions neglected viola works through recitals and recordings. He is in demand as a concerto soloist, performing with such orchestras as the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.

Matthew was the only British-based violist to be invited to perform at the 2010 International Viola Congress [3] in Cincinnati, and was also a member of the Badke String Quartet [4] when they won the 2007 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition [5].

Recordings

  • Prokofiev/Borisovski – Romeo and Juliet transcriptions for viola and piano, with Michael Hampton, piano and Rivka Golani, viola; Naxos (2010) [world premiere recording of the complete transcriptions by Borisovski with additional excerpts transcribed by Grunes and Jones]
  • Intermezzo: Music for viola and piano by Bax, Walton, Clarke, Bliss and Bridge; with Michael Hampton, piano; Naxos (2011)
  • Songs of the Cotton Grass: The Chamber Music of Hilary Tann; Matthew Jones and ensemble; Deux-Elles Records (2008)
  • Metamorphoses – The Chamber Music of Haflidi Hallgrimsson with the Fidelio Trio; Delphian Records (2008)
  • Phantasy – English Music for Viola and Piano (Bliss, Bridge, Clarke, Bowen); with Michael Hampton, piano [The Bridge Duo]

[6] London Independent Records (2006)

  • Composers of Wales - premiere recordings of works for violin/viola by Andrew Wilson-Dickson, Enid Luff, Peter Reynolds, Stephanie Power, Gareth Glyn and Michael Parkin; Composers of Wales (2011)
  • Chamber Music by Vagn Holmboe, Ensemble MidtVest [7]; (2011)

Pedagogy

Matthew is Professor of Viola at Trinity College of Music [8], London, and Professor of Violin, Viola and Chamber Music at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama [9] and Charterhouse International Music Festival [10]. He has given masterclasses in the USA at institutions such as Indiana University and Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music [11], and in Malaysia, Australia, Japan and throughout Europe and the UK.

Matthew was the inaugural recipient of the RWCMD’s William Walton Fellowship [12]. In addition he is passionate about musical education for younger students through his work with Pro Corda [13] and Aldeburgh Young Musicians [14].

Performance wellness

Inspired by his recovery from a career-threatening repetitive strain injury at the age of 23, Matthew developed a keen interest in performers’ well-being and trained as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, Kundalini Yoga and Performance Wellness. Matthew now works worldwide as a consultant to musicians on enhancing performance using these and other methods. His students of the Alexander Technique have included world-renowned conductors and soloists, world champion athletes and several orchestras including the European Union Youth Orchestra. He has presented workshops and seminars on healthy practice for musicians and techniques for enhancing performance at conservatoires in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Composition

Matthew’s work as a composer, transcriber and arranger include:

  • String Quartet No.1 Deletia (1995, revised 2004)
  • Slingshot!, a musical in two acts (book/lyrics by Bethan Jones) premiered by Music Theatre Warwick (1999)
  • Walton: Sonata for Viola and Piano (transcribed from Sonata for Violin and Piano) (2008)
  • Fantasia on Roma non fa la stupida stasera for solo violin (2005)

Charitable associations

Through his long-term involvement with the Live Music Now! [15] and Lost Chord [16] schemes in the UK, Matthew is committed to outreach and community work.

References

  1. ^ "The Strad". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  2. ^ "Bridge Duo Makes US debut at Carnegie Hall". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  3. ^ "International Viola Congress website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  4. ^ "Badke Quartet website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  5. ^ "Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  6. ^ "London Independent Recordings - The Bridge Duo". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  7. ^ "Ensemble Midtvest website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  8. ^ "Trinity College of Music website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  9. ^ "Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama website - Professor biography". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  10. ^ "Charterhouse International Music Festival website - teachers list". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  11. ^ "Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  12. ^ "William Walton Fellowship". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  13. ^ "Pro Corda website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  14. ^ "Aldeburgh Young Musicians website". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  15. ^ "Live Music Now!". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
  16. ^ "Lost Chord". Retrieved 2010-06-10.
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