A personal biography
Matt Geer
Matt Geer
I am a doctoral composer studying at Queen's University Belfast (PhD in Music) under Simon Mawhinney and Piers Hellawell. I am a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (BMus (Hons) in Classical Composition), and studied on a scholarship under Laurence Crane (previously Dr James Weeks) and currently hold the position of director of music at St Agnes Church, Kennington Park.
I was previously 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, musicians from the LPO, the clarinettist Heather Roche 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.
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. In 2017, I founded the Guildhall Schola Cantorum, who regularly sing Evensong in Cathedrals when the Cathedral choirs are away. I am a Fellow of the Society of Crematorium Organists (FSCO) and a member of the Royal College of Organists. From 2020/21 I was the pianist for the Emily Davies Dance Academy, working as a ballet accompanist for workshops, rehearsals and exams.
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 currently volunteer on local radio in London. I also manage and host the Kennington Park Recital Series, based at St Agnes Church, Kennington.
My past projects include writing an opera (funded through the Barbican and the coLABorate scheme), a monodrama on psychotic depression, an opera on suicide and large orchestral work. As well as music, I spend time cycling, visiting Churches and learning French. I live in Moorgate, central London 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.
I was previously 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, musicians from the LPO, the clarinettist Heather Roche 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.
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. In 2017, I founded the Guildhall Schola Cantorum, who regularly sing Evensong in Cathedrals when the Cathedral choirs are away. I am a Fellow of the Society of Crematorium Organists (FSCO) and a member of the Royal College of Organists. From 2020/21 I was the pianist for the Emily Davies Dance Academy, working as a ballet accompanist for workshops, rehearsals and exams.
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 currently volunteer on local radio in London. I also manage and host the Kennington Park Recital Series, based at St Agnes Church, Kennington.
My past projects include writing an opera (funded through the Barbican and the coLABorate scheme), a monodrama on psychotic depression, an opera on suicide and large orchestral work. As well as music, I spend time cycling, visiting Churches and learning French. I live in Moorgate, central London 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.
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
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