About Matthew

Matthew Bason began his performing career in 1994.  Originally classically-trained on the piano, at the age of 12 he began to teach himself the organ.  In 1998 he went on to study Music and Education at the University of Reading, U.K.

Matthew has had a varied career in music - both as an organist and pianist - as a soloist, accompanist and teacher.  Amongst his work as a freelancer he accompanies music students for examinations, plays for choirs and provides backing for cabaret and solo artistes.

From 1997 to 2004 he was resident pianist at Sopwell House, St. Albans where he played as a solo jazz pianist and accompanied singers and cabaret acts.  From 2000 to 2003 he was resident musician and musical director for shows at Ashorne Hall, Warwick where he played both organ and piano (Wurlitzer and Compton Theatre Organs, Yamaha HX-1 and Piano) to thousands of visitors as part of “The Nickelodeon Collection” museum tours and for the various daytime and evening variety shows.  This residency was cut short by the sudden death of the owner, Graham Whitehead, who was largely responsible for Matthew becoming increasingly involved with theatre pipe organs.

From 2005 to 2009 Matthew was resident pianist at Kettering Park Spa where he performed 3 nights per week as a solo pianist playing both light classical and jazz favourites.  Other hotel contracts over the years include The Savoy, Ritz, Rubens and Connaught Hotels in London.

In 1999, Matthew made his European debut playing pipe organ concerts in the Netherlands, where he has since made many return visits to very enthusiastic audiences.  To date, he has made 2 concert tours of the USA, with another return visit to the Orpheum Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona in July 2009 and a third inter-state tour planned for Autumn 2009.  Summer and autumn 2010 will see Matthew perform in Australia for the first time.

In the UK, Matthew has travelled almost every inch of the country and surrounding islands.  He is pianist for the Radio Days Big Band and has recently formed a partnership with top comedian and singer, Richard C. Parker creating a highly entertaining double-act with music and comedy.  One of Matthew’s other strengths is playing for ballroom and sequence dancing, to which he plays around 100 dates per year.

As a teacher, he spent 4 years with the highly-acclaimed Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service teaching piano and theory to all age groups around the county.  For 2 years he taught music in schools on a freelance basis in Berkshire and now teaches in his home studio in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.

Matthew won the ATOS Young Organist of the Year award in 1999 and Dean Herrick Award in 2000.  He has also been featured on BBC Radio 2’s “Organist Entertains” and other BBC local radio station programmes.

His travelling music show features the Yamaha EL-90 Organ, Casio Privia digital grand piano and Royal Standard accordion As an added novelty to the shows, he occasionally includes a silent film comedy classic accompanied on the organ – a highly entertaining performance from start to finish with a huge range of music played with total competence.

Matthew's Photo Gallery

Matthew's Concert Diary