Alongside Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan, Matthew will lead on the strategy for singing and the artistic development of choral activity at Liverpool Philharmonic. Matthew will have responsibility for the quality of the Liverpool Philharmonic choirs and their performance.

Matthew Hamilton has been Choral Director at the Hallé since 2015 and is also Musical Director of New London Chamber Choir and formerly Associate Director at London Symphony Chorus. His orchestral work includes concerts with the Hallé, RSNO, and Manchester Camerata. As a guest conductor he has appeared with Netherlands Chamber Choir, Choeur de Radio France, ChorWerk Ruhr, and many of the UK’s symphonic choruses. With the BBC Singers he has conducted live concerts, radio and TV broadcasts, and studio recordings, as well as appearances at the BBC Proms.

He read music at Oxford before studying at the University of Manchester and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD). He was made an inaugural Honorary Associate of RWCMD in 2018.

Of his appointment, Matthew said:  

“I’m delighted to be joining Liverpool Philharmonic as Director of Choirs and Singing. This role encompasses all vocal activity across the organisation, on stage, across the family of youth choirs into the community, and to have such an approach to singing is visionary and inspirational. I’m very excited to get to work with the singers who are already here, as well as encouraging anyone in Liverpool who has a passion for using their voice to become part of the journey with us.”

Michael Eakin, Liverpool Philharmonic’s Chief Executive said:

“After an extensive search we are delighted that Matthew Hamilton will join the company and be instrumental in helping us to deliver our singing strategy. Part of his responsibilities will include working with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir to prepare them for their concerts with the Orchestra and to build on the foundation laid down by their retiring chorusmaster, Ian Tracey.”

Domingo Hindoyan, Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra said:

“I am very happy that Matthew Hamilton will be joining Liverpool Philharmonic to drive our singing strategy across our organisation and beyond it. It is a very important role, and I am very much looking forward to working with Matthew on our future vocal projects.”

David Butcher, Chief Executive of the Hallé Orchestra said:

“We are pleased that Matthew is bringing his skills and experience to our colleagues in Liverpool in an exciting new role for him, and we are more than delighted he can combine it with the role he performs so brilliantly for us here in Manchester with the Hallé.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Media enquiries and further information from: Millicent Jones, Executive Director, Audiences and Development Millicent.jones@liverpoolphil.com / 07896 159134

Liverpool Philharmonic

Liverpool Philharmonic enhances and transforms lives through music. At the heart of our programme is the critically acclaimed, and UK’s oldest full time professional symphony orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; work with young people through our Youth Company and In Harmony Liverpool; support for people experiencing mental ill health through work with the NHS; and presentation of around 400 diverse concerts and events each year at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, one of the UK’s leading concert halls.

Liverpool Philharmonic is central to Liverpool’s cultural offering, being the largest music organisation and one of the largest cultural organisations in the city. Our global reach through touring and recordings promotes the city and its culture. Over 350,000 people attend Liverpool Philharmonic concerts each year. 

Liverpool Philharmonic presents one of the most diverse programmes of any music organisation outside London across our venues, representing rock/pop, folk, jazz, music from diverse cultures, chamber music, orchestral and choral music, film, spoken word and comedy, and much more.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir was founded in 1840 has been central to the life of Liverpool Philharmonic over that time. Ian Tracey recently retired as chorusmaster having served since 1986 and Matthew Hamilton will begin in the new role of Director of Choirs and Singing from October 2023. He will hold the role concurrently with his position at the Hallé.

The Choir have made several recordings and broadcasts over the years, including an acclaimed release of Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony with principal guest conductor, Andrew Manze; they have also featured in several concerts each season at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as well as concerts outside Liverpool. Next season their repertoire includes Beethoven’s Mass in C, Brahms' Song of Destiny and Nänie, Faure’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Poulenc's Gloria, working with conductors Domingo Hindoyan, Matthew Halls, Ben Glassberg, Bernard Labadie and Ariane Matiakh.  

The choir membership comprises singers from all over the Northwest of England and they perform regularly with Chief Conductor, Domingo Hindoyan and many guest conductors. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings in Liverpool and the choir schedule allows for workshop days and other activities to support the development of its singers. A recruitment drive is held each summer and Liverpool Philharmonic welcomes applications from all eligible candidates and has an inclusivity and relevance plan to support this.