Matthew Atherton

Matthew Atherton is an organist and composer, and is currently Director of The Corinthian Singers. He was teaching at Pembroke School from 2008 - 2022. He received tuition in organ from Christa Rumsey and Dr. David Swale, and composition and arranging from Tristram Cary. Atherton was the first Organ Scholar at St Peters Cathedral, Adelaide, and was organist at St Francis Xaviers Cathedral from 1989 - 2010. His professional career has featured many solo and ensemble performances, including engagements with the Adelaide Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, most of Adelaide's major choirs, along with many performances for the Adelaide Town Hall's annual organ recital series. In 1997, Atherton performed on notable cathedral organs around the United Kingdom, and the following year, he was a participant in workshops at the Calgary International Organ Festival (Canada) where he was granted a private meeting with the acclaimed Marie-Claire Alain. He has also participated in masterclasses and workshops with distinguished organists including Dame Gillian Weir, Daniel Roth, and Thomas Trotter. In 2001, he performed in Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden and in 2011, he performed in Romainmôtier, Switzerland, on the restored Albert Alain organ for the Jehan Alain Association. As composer, Atherton has written for video documentaries, solo organ works, electronic works, vocal, choral, theatre music, and small ensemble pieces. The Graduate Singers, Lumina Vocal Ensemble, and Corinthian Singers have premiered a number of his choral works, including the substantial "Requiem To The Unknown", "In Riddles Disappearing", "Around Us", "Crossing Parallels", "Now My Charms Are All O'erthrown", and "Only". In 1999, Adelaide’s notable Cameo Trio premiered "From Life" and the following year, "La Vie est Belle?" Atherton also maintains a keen interest in 20th Century and contemporary repertoire, including Jazz and Progressive Rock, and has played synthesisers and keyboards in numerous bands including "Glass Onion" (a Beatles cover band), "Sound", and "The William Campbell Conspiracy".