Matthew Owens

My teaching philosophy, in essence, falls into three main strands:

• firstly, to make the students’ experience a holistic one
• secondly, to teach the students to teach themselves
• thirdly, to push the boundaries of what the student and I think is possible

A richly varied education and working life have helped form my teaching philosophy. Following Oxford and further studies at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and the Amsterdam Conservatorium, I dedicated over 25 years to high-level, professional music making in cathedrals in the United Kingdom and have combined this, at almost all most points in my career, with teaching. I taught extensively at conservatoire level (undergraduate and postgraduate teaching of the organ and of choral conducting) at the RNCM, and have considerable experience in high-level school education, having been on the staff of three of the UK’s five specialist music schools: Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester; St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh; and Wells Cathedral School, Somerset.

I am currently Professor of Vocals at the Royal Marines School of Music (England) and have recently been appointed as an accredited teacher for the Royal College of Organists, the only one in Northern Ireland.

I see the sharing of my craft knowledge of choral conducting and professional music-making experience (as a conductor, composer, and organist) almost as a duty: I have been fortunate to have been inspired and trained by excellent teachers; I therefore want to help young students and performers expand their horizons.

I teach piano, organ, harpsichord, voice, theory, and conducting. I teach from beginners through to diploma level and beyond.