Described as “…a performer of virtuosic ability and one of the new generation of recitalists and gifted players from around the world” Matthew Marshall is Professor of Music and Dean of Arts at Sunway University Malaysia and is one of New Zealand’s leading classical guitarists.
In a prize-winning career spanning nearly 40 years, Matthew has given over 2000 performances throughout Europe, Asia, Pacific Islands, America, Australasia, and from Iceland to Siberia and
Easter Island! He has also given over 150 concerto performances with orchestras in New
Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Malaysia, USA and Germany including appearances with the
Berlin Chamber Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, the Guanajuato & Michoacan Symphony
Orchestras, the Selangor Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Kemerovo Philharmonic in Russia.
Matthew is an advocate for contemporary music, particularly by New Zealand composers, with
more than 60 works commissioned or premiered by him including nine concertos and numerous solo and chamber works. In 2005 he gave a critically acclaimed solo recital at the Royal Festival Hall, London premiering major new works by New Zealand composers which was described as “extraordinarily successful” (Musical Opinion, UK).
As a recording artist, Matthew features on thirteen albums for solo guitar, with chamber
ensembles and with orchestra (alongside the Kronos Quartet, the NZ String Quartet, and NZ
Symphony Orchestra). His fourth solo album “Fragments” was a finalist in the Best Classical
Artist category of the 2020 New Zealand Music Awards and judged one of the top 200 albums
worldwide (all genres) in 2020 by the Los Angeles Times.
His most recent album “Brighter Than Blue” featuring music and poetry by New Zealand
composers and poets features performances with New Zealand arts icons Sir Jon Trimmer and
Dame Kate Harcourt. “The whole album is distinguished by the fine musicianship of Marshall and his collaborators.” (The Listener, NZ).
Sought after as a teacher, since 1991 Matthew has held teaching positions at Universities and
Colleges in five countries, and given masterclasses on four continents, including at the
Conservatorio Nacional de Mexico, the Gnessin Academy Moscow, Mannes College New York,
Liaoning University China and at Festivals in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Mexico and Malaysia.
He was Artistic Director of the NZ International Guitar Festival 1992-2005 and Artistic Director of the Southern Cross Arts Festival Australia 2014-2017. He has been a juror on international music competitions in the UK, Australia, USA, Malaysia and New Zealand.
Alongside his performing career, Matthew has also held senior leadership positions at
Universities in New Zealand, Australia, England and Malaysia including Dean of Arts & Social
Science at Southern Cross University, Dean of Creative Arts and Dean of Information Technology at Central Queensland University Australia, Director of Music at Dartington College of Arts UK, Co-Director of the New Zealand School of Music and Head of the Conservatorium of Music, Massey University New Zealand.
He studied guitar in New Zealand with John Mills and William Bower, in England with
Gordon Crosskey, and in New York with David Leisner. A graduate of the Royal Northern
College of Music UK and Victoria University of Wellington, he also holds a doctorate from
the University of Otago, New Zealand.
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