As a composer
A very short biography
© Matt Geer
© Matt Geer
Matt Geer (b. 1996) is a doctoral philosopher, composer, conductor-organist and artistic manager. His research interests lie in the philosophy of art aesthetics and experimental music composition. He studied classical music composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (ranked the top music conservatoire in the UK) and is currently researching for a PhD in experimental music composition and its philosophical implications at Queen's University Belfast (ranked 9th in the world for research output). His music has been performed at world-class venues like the Barbican Centre, various cathedrals (St Paul's, Southwark, Belfast, Brussels, Rochester) the Museum of London, the Grimeborn Opera Festival, the Royal College of Music and Harvard University. In 2022, he published his first book 'At this moment in time: Philosophical perspectives on sound' and is currently working on a new book on experimental music composition. As a conductor-organist, he has performed at most major UK Cathedrals and champions organ music of young up-and-coming composers as an organist. Currently, Matt is Executive Producer of the Southern Cathedrals Festival (SCF), based at Winchester, Salisbury and Chichester Cathedrals. Prior to this, he worked at the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast both in the fundraising team and within the Learning and Community Engagement (LCE) department. Outside music, he is interested in a broader study of philosophy and is an Anglican Tertiary in the Third Order of the Society of St Francis (TSSF).
A personal biography
Matt Geer
Matt Geer
I have recently finished a PhD in philosophy and music composition (supr. Dr. Simon Mawhinney, Belfast); my research title is "Counting over time: Approaching the enumeration of maximal combinatorial systems through the phenomenology of temporal consciousness." The research explores the temporal implications that system music presents for the listener, in relation to my own work and in the wider context of experimental and minimalist music. In 2022, I published my first book 'At this moment in time: Philosophical perspectives on sound' and am currently working on a new book on experimental music composition.
Previously, I studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on a scholarship under Laurence Crane (previously Dr James Weeks). I was composer in association with the City Chamber Choir and have had my music performed and workshopped by the likes of the BBC singers, EXAUDI, Line Upon Line, Lakeside Brass, Harvard University, sections of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the clarinettist Heather Roche, the organist Carson Cooman and the contemporary pianist Satoko Inoue. I studied organ through the Royal College of Organists at the University of Sussex under James Lloyd Thomas and under Simon Williams at St George's, Hanover Square. I am currently composer-in-residence with the London Baroque Orchestra and the South-East Symphony Orchestra.
As an organist and conductor, I've played and conducted at Cathedrals such as Westminster (Cathedral and Abbey), Southwark, St Pauls, Canterbury, Peterborough, Liverpool, St Albans, Rochester, Guildford, Winchester, Salisbury, Belfast, Oxford, Hereford and abroad in Paris and Belgium. I was choral director for the Queen's Consort and the Mossgrove singers, and have previously worked as a director for the Guildhall Schola Cantorum, the London Conservatoire Singers and the St Agnes Liturgical Choir. I am a Fellow of the Society of Crematorium Organists (FSCO), a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and the Royal College of Organists. From 2015-2021, I held the position of director of music at St Agnes Church, Kennington Park. Currently, I am Director of Music at the historic Old Town Parish in Hastings, East Sussex, where I run the senior choir and the junior choir, including the RSCM Voice for Life scheme.
With an interest in arts management, I am currently Executive Producer of the Southern Cathedrals Festival (SCF), overseeing the festival events at Salisbury, Winchester and Chichester cathedrals. Prior to this appointment, I worked for the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast both in the fundraising team and within the Learning and Community Engagement (LCE) department.
I was recently fortunate enough to be chosen for BBC Radio 3 Next Generation Voices, searching for new presenters and speech contributors for broadcast, and worked for a number of years on local radio in London. I also managed and hosted the Kennington Park Recital Series, based at St Agnes Church, Kennington. In early 2021, I was asked to give a prestigious TED talk on schizophrenia and music.
My past projects include writing and curating operas (most recently funded through the Barbican), a monodrama on psychotic depression, a setting of the Passion of Christ for orchestra and chorus and a number of substantial chamber and solo works. As well as music, I spend time cycling, visiting Churches and learning French. I live in Hastings, East Sussex and am currently in formation of becoming professed as a tertiary in the Third Order of the Society of St Francis.
My knowledge and love of music was facilitated through my first and only teacher growing up, Ann Hohenkerk (ALCM), who I studied church music, electronic keyboard and theory with in Fairlight, East Sussex.
Previously, I studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on a scholarship under Laurence Crane (previously Dr James Weeks). I was composer in association with the City Chamber Choir and have had my music performed and workshopped by the likes of the BBC singers, EXAUDI, Line Upon Line, Lakeside Brass, Harvard University, sections of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the clarinettist Heather Roche, the organist Carson Cooman and the contemporary pianist Satoko Inoue. I studied organ through the Royal College of Organists at the University of Sussex under James Lloyd Thomas and under Simon Williams at St George's, Hanover Square. I am currently composer-in-residence with the London Baroque Orchestra and the South-East Symphony Orchestra.
As an organist and conductor, I've played and conducted at Cathedrals such as Westminster (Cathedral and Abbey), Southwark, St Pauls, Canterbury, Peterborough, Liverpool, St Albans, Rochester, Guildford, Winchester, Salisbury, Belfast, Oxford, Hereford and abroad in Paris and Belgium. I was choral director for the Queen's Consort and the Mossgrove singers, and have previously worked as a director for the Guildhall Schola Cantorum, the London Conservatoire Singers and the St Agnes Liturgical Choir. I am a Fellow of the Society of Crematorium Organists (FSCO), a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and the Royal College of Organists. From 2015-2021, I held the position of director of music at St Agnes Church, Kennington Park. Currently, I am Director of Music at the historic Old Town Parish in Hastings, East Sussex, where I run the senior choir and the junior choir, including the RSCM Voice for Life scheme.
With an interest in arts management, I am currently Executive Producer of the Southern Cathedrals Festival (SCF), overseeing the festival events at Salisbury, Winchester and Chichester cathedrals. Prior to this appointment, I worked for the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast both in the fundraising team and within the Learning and Community Engagement (LCE) department.
I was recently fortunate enough to be chosen for BBC Radio 3 Next Generation Voices, searching for new presenters and speech contributors for broadcast, and worked for a number of years on local radio in London. I also managed and hosted the Kennington Park Recital Series, based at St Agnes Church, Kennington. In early 2021, I was asked to give a prestigious TED talk on schizophrenia and music.
My past projects include writing and curating operas (most recently funded through the Barbican), a monodrama on psychotic depression, a setting of the Passion of Christ for orchestra and chorus and a number of substantial chamber and solo works. As well as music, I spend time cycling, visiting Churches and learning French. I live in Hastings, East Sussex and am currently in formation of becoming professed as a tertiary in the Third Order of the Society of St Francis.
My knowledge and love of music was facilitated through my first and only teacher growing up, Ann Hohenkerk (ALCM), who I studied church music, electronic keyboard and theory with in Fairlight, East Sussex.
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Awards include: Accepted onto BBC Radio 3 Next Generation Voices Scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Recital awards in Bournemouth and St Albans awarded by Oundle for Organists Most promising musician at the Hastings Music Festival Composer-In-Association with the City Chamber Choir Royal College of Music / BBC Proms Inspire scheme |
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Download my current CV and artistic statement here: