Accompanist - Matthew Kelley
Matthew Kelley is an organist and composer from Worcester, who currently holds the position of Graduate Musician in Residence at King Edward VI School, Southampton. He recently completed a two-year stint as the Graham Rogers Organ Scholar at Chelmsford Cathedral from September 2021 to August 2023, where he also worked as Acting Assistant Organist from September 2022 to April 2023. He began learning the organ in 2010 under Christopher Allsop during his tenure as a Chorister with Worcester Cathedral Choir. He took on his first playing role as Senior Organ Scholar at Great Malvern Priory in 2015, and was later the 2017/18 Organ Scholar of Guildford Cathedral under the directorship of Katherine Dienes-Williams.
Matthew graduated from Durham University in 2021 with a First-Class degree in Music. Whilst there, he held the post of Musical Director at St Chad’s College, and directed the Durham University Choral Society through 2020/21. Matthew is recognised as a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) and also has a DipABRSM for Music Performance on the piano. He also enjoys playing jazz and has experience in accompanying chamber music on the harpsichord.
As well as a performer, Matthew is an award-winning composer, winning the junior category of the BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers Competition in 2015 with his piece Fantasia for Strings. He has since been commissioned to write for groups such as the BBC Singers and the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir, and has one choral work, Morning Thoughts, published through the RSCM Press.
Away from music, Matthew is a keen reader, cook, sailor and cyclist. He lives with his partner, Catherine and cat, Daphne.