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Matthew Roughley is a Manchester-based choral conductor with a passion for youth music, education, and creating inspiring singing experiences for young people.

Matthew balances a varied freelance career, working with some of the UK’s most respected arts organisations. His work spans choral concerts, workshops, education projects, and arranging for choirs. He is an Associate Artist with The Hallé, where he works across a range of choral activities and is the principal conductor of the Hallé Youth Training Choir, supporting singers aged 13-15 to develop their skills and confidence. Matthew is also the director of the Chamber Choir and Consort of Voices at the Pendleton School of Theatre in Salford.

In 2021, Matthew founded Sale Youth Choirs, a family of non-auditioned choirs for children aged 5-16. His aim is to create a welcoming and inclusive space where all young people who love to sing can thrive.

A passionate singer and arranger, Matthew is the founder and artistic director of Manchester Vocal Ensemble, a collective of North West based singers creating and performing original vocal arrangements of contemporary a cappella music.

Matthew’s formal training as a conductor began with Sing for Pleasure, where he was selected for the Young Conducting Scholarship Programme in 2015. Now, as part of their conductor tutor team, he shares his expertise from choirs of all kinds, from youth and community choirs to professional ensembles.

I am delighted to join the team at National Youth Choir and to have the opportunity to work with talented young singers from across the country. When I first auditioned for this remarkable organisation as a young singer in 2006, it opened doors to experiences and opportunities I could never have imagined, sparking my lifelong passion for choral music and shaping my professional journey. Now, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to give back - to share my knowledge, inspire the next generation of choral singers, and contribute to the vibrant, creative energy that makes National Youth Choir so special.