Matthew Hardy

Matthew Hardy studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with ‪Steve Barnard, Chris Stock and Phil Girling, graduating in 2010 and winning the Gemma Sharp Memorial Award. 

Matt has been Principal Timpanist of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra since January 2018, having previously held the position of Principal Timpani and Percussion with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Matt has continued to maintain a busy freelance career working all over the world with many of the UK’s finest ensembles including LSO, RPO, Philharmonia, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera and the Aurora Orchestra, which included a televised performance of ‘Eroica’ from memory at the BBC Proms 2017. In 2014 Matt won a place on ‪the Orchestraof the Age of Enlightenment’s prestigious placement scheme, which developed his interest in period instruments and performance.

Aside from performing Matt is a passionate teacher. Since 2010 he has taught Percussion, Timpani and Orchestral Skills at Wells Cathedral School and has tutored for the National Youth Wind Ensemble GB, National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. Matt has participated in, devised and led a vast array of creative and outreach projects with all ages and abilities. He has given masterclasses at St Andrew’s University and both the RWCMD and Birmingham Conservatoire.