Matthew Featherstone began his flute studies with Catherine Ferro and moved on to the Orleans Conservatoire (in France) where he studied under Arlette Biget, gaining his “premier prix” for flute in 2004, and his “premier prix” for chamber music the following year.
Since moving to England, he has played with various orchestras in London as well as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and is currently on trial for the second flute position of the Ulster Orchestra. Matthew is a founding member of Trio Anima (flute, harp and viola), who were finalists of the Royal Overseas League in 2007, and gold medallist of the Camac Harp chamber music competition in the same year. Trio Anima are currently a Fellow Ensemble of the Guildhall School, where Matthew studied as an undergraduate and on the Guildhall Artist MMus Programme with Philippa Davies, Sarah Newbold and Ian Clarke.
As a solo artist who was recently awarded the Worshipful Company of Musicians Busenhart-Morgan-Evans Award, the British Flute Society Award, the prestigious Needlemakers wind prize (2009), and was finalist of the Wigmore Hall Recital Prize, Matthew is delighted to be performing with pianist Philip Shannon in the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme this year.
Matthew has a strong interest in collaborations with other art forms, and has enjoyed working with actors and dancers, doing work based on improvisation. Alongside his classical training, he’s been lucky enough to work with some fantastic singers and gain experience as a backing vocalist and session singer, and can also be heard beatboxing with the group Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra.
