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Born in Essex, Matthew Elderton-Lewis (b. 2001) is a composer whose infectiously passionate personality and musical talent continue to emerge on both concert and multimedia stages across the United Kingdom and in the United States. With a style described as idiosyncratic and unapologetically cheeky, Matthew began gaining recognition for his work after receiving second prize for The Clements Prize for Composers. 

Matthew’s music has been commissioned, performed, featured, and workshopped by ensembles such as the Essex Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Phacelia Ensemble, Riot Ensemble, Chroma Ensemble, Trilogy Ensemble, The Choir of Royal Holloway, and Ligeti Quartet, as well as in solo collaborations with Catrin Finch, Dr. Carla Rees, and Simon Callaghan. As a media composer, Matthew has maintained a busy schedule working on several advertisements, PSA's, trailers, and short films. Most recently, he contributed music to Paul G. Raymond’s award-winning short film, The Suicide (2025).

In addition to composing, Matthew is also an accomplished conductor, having led ensembles such as the LCM Camerata, members of Britten Sinfonia and Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra and Triple H Community Choir in performative and collaborative projects spanning traditional, contemporary, and archival repertoire. His conducting credentials also include sessions at Abbey Road Studios. Most recently, he was appointed conductor for the Everest 1922: Audio-visual Perspectives conference, where he led a performance of newly rediscovered music composed by an explorer following the first filmed expedition to Mt. Everest.

Matthew has been fortunate to participate in several composer development schemes, including Britten Sinfonia’s Opus 1, PoppyHarp Composer Project, and MusicFest Aberystwyth Composition Summer School.

In 2023, Matthew completed a Master of Music (with distinction) under the tutelage of Nathan James Dearden, Christian Mason, Samantha Fernando, and Tonia Ko, supported by a Headley Trust Scholarship. In 2022, he graduated from the London College of Music, University of West London, with a Bachelor of Music in Composition (with first-class honours), studying under Francis Pott, Simone Spagnolo, and David Osbon. He also completed an LLCM Licentiate Conducting Diploma (with merit) under the guidance of Dwight Pile-Gray and Simon Rigby.

Alongside composing and conducting, Matthew is also a digital marketing assistant for Alternative Classical, a website pioneering positive change in the classical music industry by producing and promoting new approaches to classical music. His articles for the site can be viewed here.

6 Nov 2025