Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

Born in Bolton in 1990, Matthew Ryan grew up playing Eb Bass with Smithills School Senior Brass Band as they won multiple national and international titles from 2001-2008. As part of the band's high profile tours, he played as a principal member across the world; including, as a soloist, on a tour of the USA and as principal in the band's WMC title in 2005. He has also been a playing member of numerous trophy winning bands including: Hoover (Bolton), Flixton, Frickley South Elmsall, Wingates and Hammonds.
Whilst at university, Matthew branched out in to orchestral conducting and was a driving force behind the Merge Arts Festival Orchestra formed in 2012 to perform in Hull as part of the cultural olympiad. In a short career so far, he has completed engagements with multiple orchestras including performing at the Royal Albert Hall with Berkshire Young Musician's Trust. In brass banding, Matthew has directed trophy and contest winning performances across his engagements as musical director at bands including Eagley, Horwich RMI and Flixton.
In 2021, as well as joining the AoBBA, Matthew has directed Flixton Band to qualification to compete at the World Music Contest, Kerkrade in July 2022 and to a leading spot for promotion to the Championship section in the North West region. He will also direct the VBS (Poynton) Band on it's return to contesting at the Spring Festival, after a severe doubt the band would ever compete again after the coronavirus lockdown.