Exploring A Portfolio Career In Music

The Music Department was delighted to welcome back Matt Nicholls (Knights, 2016) to speak to our current musicians about his career within the music world.

You can watch the recording of Matt’s talk here:

Matt shared his inspiring career journey to date and how he developed his portfolio career within the Music industry. He spoke about the different aspects of his job, from conducting and solo playing to accompanying, composing, recording, teaching, musicology, and animator workshops. Matt explained both the strengths and challenges of a portfolio career and how he has had to adapt his work during the past months of lockdown.

Matt started at Ashford School in Year 7 in 2009 and left after his A Levels in 2016. He was a Music Scholar, and whilst at Ashford School participated fully in the life of the Music Department, from AYJO to Chamber Choir, Orchestra to the School Musicals. After his A Levels, Matt studied Music at Cardiff University, before going on to complete a Masters in Choral Conducting at Cambridge University.

Matt currently works at Wells Cathedral School as their Graduate Music Assistant and Going Solo Performance Coordinator, as Musical Director of the choral ensemble The Handful, and works as a freelance musician performing, conducting, and composing.

Since leaving Ashford, he has had worked on many exciting projects, from participating in recordings for BBC Radio Wales & ClassicFM; having his compositions performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales; conducting choral groups such as VOCES8; accompanying musicians/choirs such as Choir of Canterbury Cathedral; and teaching music in prisons.

The Music Department is looking forward to welcoming Matt back to School in person in the not too distant future.