Matthew Hall - Composer

2 In A Row!

Matthew has won the Cyril Beere Memorial Trophy for the Best New Composition or Arrangement at the Brass In Concert Championships for the second year in succession.

Tredegar Town Band's performance of 'Nightingale Dances' beat off stiff competition from 26 other new compositions and arrangements performed on the day at The Sage, Gateshead in the world's leading brass band entertainment contest, described as 'A Real Beauty' and 'Turbo Charged' in the live comments from 4barsrest.com.

Tredegar Town Band also performed 'The Smile' during their performance, described by adjudicators Philip Sparke and Rob Wiffen as 'a class apart.' Tredegar won the performance prize obtaining 198 out of a possible 200 points and came 3rd overall.

Keep checking back for the latest news and when 'Nightingale Dances' will become available on sale from TritonWorks Music Publishing House.

Royal Albert Hall Debut

Matthew's music made it's debut at the most iconic concert hall in the world recently. The Gloucestershie Youth Brass Band performed 'The Smile' during the Music For Youth Schools Proms on Monday 7th November 2011.

Conducted by Steve Legge, the band performed in front of a full house of nearly 5000 people with the composer present on this fantastic occasion. The video below was taken during the rehearsals in the afternoon.

Activate at BASBWE Event

Matthew's fantastic opener 'Activate' will receive it's world premiere performance in Wind Orchestra format in the Gala Concert at the 2011 BASBWE Event in Shrewsbury.

Maria Eglington will conduct the Shrewsbury School Wind Orchestra at the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles annual event at the conclusion of a fantastic day of music making.

The BASBWE event takes place at Shrewsbury School on Saturday 3rd December 2011 with the Gala Concert taking place in the Alington Hall starting at 7.00pm.

For more information please click on the links below.

'Activate' for Wind Orchestra is also now available for purchase at TritonWorks Music Publishing House.

Bolsover Commission

Matthew has been commissioned to write a piece to open the end of course concert at Bolsover Summer School in 2012.

Artistic Director Ian Porthouse asked Matthew to create a new work that's intention is to be used every year as a regular feature, somewhat like a theme tune.

The Bolsover Summer School runs from 22nd to 28th July 2012, with the end of course concert taking place on the final evening. Keep checking back for further news or for more information on the Bolsover Summer School, click on the link below.

Brett Baker Commission

Matthew has received a commission from renowned Trombone soloist Brett Baker. President of the British Trombone Society, principal trombone of the Black Dyke Band and a clinician for Michael Rath Brass Instruments, Brett is viewed as one of Europe's leading brass performers and educators, and passionate about encouraging composers to write pioneering new solo repertoire.

Keep checking back here for the latest news and click on the image below for more information on Brett.

Fanfare Success

Matthew's succesful work 'Dragons' Rise' has been transformed into an opening fanfare.

Tredegar Town Band performed the premiere at the 2010 National Eisteddfod Opening Ceremony.

'Dragons' Rise Fanfare' has subsequently been arranged for Wind Orchestra, commissioned by the Burton Borough School Concert Band for their performance at the Music For Youth National Festival on 8th July 2011.

This new piece is available to purchase from TritonWorks Music Publishing House - follow the link below.

Open Rehearsal

Matthew was asked to create a new piece to work through and conduct at an open rehearsal for Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra in September 2011.

Having recently submitted the portfolio and commentary for his PhD in Composition, Matthew used this opportunity to arrange one of the movements from his major work 'Enesek Syllan.'

Originally composed for Wind Orchestra, 'Ennor' was arranged for Symphony Orchestra for this one-off rehearsal.

The Smile for Wind Orchestra

At the request of conductor Paul Hughes, Matthew's best-selling work 'The Smile' has recently been arranged for Wind Orchestra. Paul will be performing 'The Smile' in early 2012 with the Gwynedd Youth Wind Orchestra.

Keep checking back for the latest news about where you can hear performances of 'The Smile,' and you can now purchase the new arrangement for Wind Orchestra from TritonWorks Music Publishing House.

Champions League Final

As Composer-in-Residence with Tredegar Town Band, Matthew was asked to arrange 3 pieces to perform at Wembley for the 2011 Champions League Final.

The band had been asked to perform to the fans arriving at the historic National Stadium, including playing the well-known 'Champions League Theme,' 'Glory Glory Man United' and 'Cant del Barca.' As no arrangements existed for brass band of these pieces, Matthew arranged each one for the band to perform in front of an estimated 150,000 fans gathered for the Champions League Final.

The amateur footage recorded below shows the band performing throughout the day before the football match, including the arranger conduting at one point also. (Excuse the split notes)!

Previous News

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