Matthew Foster
Matthew graduated in 2023 with a BA in music from the University of Oxford. He was organ scholar at Lincoln College where he trained, conducted, and accompanied the choir in services, concerts, and recordings.
Matthew began his musical career in 2008 as a chorister at Chelmsford Cathedral. In 2016, he was offered an organ scholarship at St Mary’s Church, Maldon. Upon this appointment, he began studying the organ under the tutelage of Laurence Lyndon-Jones, Assistant Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral, whilst continuing to study the piano with Tim Carey. During his time at St Mary’s, Matthew played for a variety of services and concerts in Chelmsford, Newcastle, Peterborough, Carlisle and Coventry Cathedrals, and abroad in Bavaria and Ghent. After completing his A-levels, he took up the position of Organ Scholar at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and taught A- level music at King Edward VI School. After his first school term, Matthew became Acting Assistant Organist at the cathedral. During the pandemic, Matthew helped provide a wealth of free online theory tuition, educational resources, singing and piano lessons, virtual rehearsals, performances, concerts, and services, to ensure people still had access to music, education, and worship. During his time at Lincoln College, Matthew has undertaken many recitals, tours, concerts, and recordings, both as a soloist and as a director. In his second year, Matthew directed the choir of Lincoln College for their CD “Tresors du Paradis”, a record of monumental choral works for organ and choir, including Durufle’s Requiem, Catagnet’s Messe Salve Regina, and a new commission by Jonathan Dove. This CD went on to gain favourable reviews, including a 4-star rating from the prestigious BBC Music Magazine.
Matthew is in demand as a director, performer, and musical consultant within Oxfordshire. Matthew currently holds posts as the director of music at St Thomas’ Church, Goring-on-Thames, musical director of the Wychwood Chorale, and choir master at Wolfson College, Oxford. Matthew is also an accomplished saxophonist and enjoys other hobbies such as parkour, backpacking, driving his car, fixing said car when it inevitably breaks, and is also on the Oxford University ice hockey team.
Chris Brown (Accompanist)
Chris is an organist, pianist, and tenor and moved to Oxfordshire in September 2017 to become Head of Music at Chipping Norton School.
He was previously in Norfolk for a decade teaching music in Fakenham, as well as being involved with several local musical groups. These included being Organist and Choirmaster at Fakenham Parish Church, Resident Conductor of the Fakenham Town Band, and a stint as Musical Director of Fakenham Choral Society, as well as being the official accompanist of the King’s Lynn Festival Chorus.
Chris enjoys running and cycling, having recently cycled the Land’s End to John O’Groats route, and running his second marathon in Edinburgh.
He is also a qualified bus driver!
