Matthew Manchester, cornetto
Beginning his musical journey in a brass band in regional NSW, Matthew Manchester is now recognised as one of Australia's leading performers of Rennaisance & Baroque music, playing cornetto and baroque trumpet. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) with Honours, a Master of Music (Performance), and a PhD from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Matthew maintains a busy performance schedule both in Australia and abroad, and features regularly with the majority of Australia’s early music ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Antipodes, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Bach Akademie Australia, The Muffat Collective, and of course, Van Diemen’s Band. His discography includes dozens of recordings in both the U.K. and Australia, as well as numerous ABC Classic FM, and BBC broadcasts. Living in London from 2008-2012, Matthew studied with early music revival luminaries such as Jeremy West and David Staff, and performed alongside them in ensembles including the Gabrieli Consort and His Majesty’s Sagbutts & Cornetts.
Matthew is also a passionate music educator and conductor, equally at home in the classroom, lecture theatre, or on the podium. Matthew lectures in pre-Baroque performance practice and cornetto at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he directs the only university cornett and sackbut ensemble outside of Europe. In his spare time, Matthew also conducts the NSW Schools Symphonic Wind Orchestra, is the Director of the acclaimed Fort Street High School Instrumental Music Program, and plays guest 3rd trombone in the North Sydney Public School Junior Band.