2017 Awardee: Matthew Grouse
"This was a vital learning experience and one I feel has created a very tangible sense of forward momentum in my musical career"
Biography
Matthew is a musician with exceptional credentials, exhibiting skills in a wide variety of settings from large scale compositions involving electronics and voices to delicate chamber works.
His work regularly combines media and is often concerned with human frailties and finding the remarkable in the seemingly ordinary aspects of everyday life. Activities include selection for Yaron Deutsch’s Electric Guitar Etude Project at Darmstadt; an EP release on New York based label, Not Art Records and being shortlisted in two categories of the 2018 Scottish Awards for New Music.
Matthew’s music has been showcased across the UK and internationally, in Germany, Italy, Egypt, USA, Canada and Ireland. His music has been performed or workshopped by artists including: Royal Northern Sinfonia; Hebrides Ensemble; Red Note Ensemble; The Assembly Project; DeCoda Ensemble; Gildas Quartet; Dohnányi String Trio; Sinae Lee (pianist) and Lewis Banks (saxophonist).
His work has featured at or is programmed for future performances at festivals such as Darmstadt; The Cumnock Tryst; St Magnus International Festival; Cottier Chamber Project; Leeds Lieder Festival; EviMus Festival and Sound / Image Colloquium.
Matthew is also passionate about inclusivity within new music. This has been reinforced by being awarded the 2017 Kimie Composition Prize, which resulted in Live Music Now Scotland commissioning an interactive string trio for performances in dementia care homes and traditional concert hall settings. Further to this, Matthew received an orchestral commission for the Nevis Ensemble’s inaugural tour, which will take in 70 performances in public and community settings around Scotland as part of Glasgow2018.
How the Award Helped
Industrious and dedicated, Matthew studied composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and whilst there was offered a place on the prestigious St Magnus Festival Composer’s Course. His Award supported him in accessing this exceptional opportunity to further develop his already commendable skillset.
"This was a vital learning experience and one I feel has created a very tangible sense of forward momentum in my musical career"