Pianist

Matthew Goh, LTCL

Matthew was born in Malaysia and received his education at Penang Free School, Southeast Asia’s first and oldest English school. He began studying the piano at the age of seven and received his early tuition from several teachers including Sheamala Satkuru and Tan Shoon Chi. Following a successful audition in 1990, he was accepted as a pupil of the late Joe Emuang, a highly respected piano teacher on the island. Under his tutelage, Matthew obtained the Performer’s Certificate in 1991 and was awarded the Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance (LTCL) from Trinity College London in 1994.

Matthew has performed in many recitals and concerts, both as a soloist and as an accompanist. In 1992, he accompanied the Penang Free School Choir which won first prize in the Penang Pesta Muzik Choir Competition. Two years later, he accompanied Linda Choong in the Malaysian Northern Region Classical Song Competition for which he received high praise from the judges.

Whilst studying medicine at Leicester University, he was awarded the Leicester University Music Scholarship for the maximum three consecutive years from 1996 to 1998. During this time, he was the accompanist for the Leicester University Singers and performed with the Leicester University Orchestra in a number of concerts.

In April 2005, Matthew was appointed accompanist to the Bristol New Harmony Ladies Choir and performed with the choir in 10-12 concerts per year, including competing in the BBC Choir of the Year on two occasions. He was previously choir répétiteur for the Bristol Cabot Choir and played for the Northavon Youth Theatre Company’s production on Half a Sixpence in April 2010. In March 2011, he performed with award-winning Soprano, Maita Robinson, in a recital of Classical and Contemporary Art Song which included Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder.

A self-taught clarinettist, Matthew has played in the Penang Free School Band, the Penang Combined Schools’ Band and was the principal clarinettist of the Penang Symphony Orchestra. In 1992, he was chosen by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism to represent Malaysia in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Youth Symphonic Band in Singapore.

Matthew is currently a member of the Bristol Piano Club and is active in the local music scene in addition to accompanying candidates for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and University of Bristol music examinations. Recent teachers include Dennis Lee, Allan Schiller and Marlene Fleet.

Matthew plays for Vocalise and our children’s choir, Vocalstars.