Matthew Taylor won a Music Scholarship to Queen's College Cambridge before winning the Conducting Scholarship to Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He has studied conducting with Leonard Bernstein, Vilem Tausky and George Hurst, composition with Robin Holloway and received special encouragement from Robert Simpson who proved a critical influence during the early years.
Matthew is widely regarded as one of the UK's leading living symphonists. His orchestral works are regularly played and broadcast by BBC Orchestras. He has written several concertos which have been performed by soloists including Emma Johnson, Richard Watkins, Sarah-Jane Bradley, James Turnbull and Daniel Pailthorpe. Matthew has also written eight string quartets, much chamber music and works for solo piano. His 6th Symphony is currently in production for Toccata Classics. His most recent commission is a 2nd Horn Concerto for Steven Stirling and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Matthew is a Staff Conductor and General Musicianship teacher at Yehudi Menuhin School and a Composition Professor at Junior Academy.