matthew horsley

Matthew Horsley (b. 1986) is a multi-instrumentalist and composer currently based in Melbourne. Hailing from Brisbane, he holds a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and a Master of Music Performance (by Research) from the Victorian College of the Arts.. He is currently completing a PhD in ethnomusicology at Monash University.

Matthew has an avid interest in Irish traditional music, specialising in the uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes). As the recipient of a JUMP Mentoring grant, he traveled to Ireland in 2014 where he studied with renowned piper Mikie Smyth and performed a solo recital for Irish National Heritage Week. His first uilleann piping album, Australian Waters, was released in 2015. He was a finalist in the Performance of the Year category at the 2018 Australian Art Music Awards.

Matthew has performed extensively across classical, experimental, popular, jazz and folk genres, with artists such as Steve Reich, the Australian Art Orchestra, Speak Percussion, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Ludovico’s Band, Topology and Clocked Out. He performs regularly with Irish traditional music trio Trioc, Balkan folk ensemble Anja & Zlatna and in a duo with recorder player Ryan Williams.