Musical Director, City of Bradford Brass Band: Matthew Ryan

Current Brass Band Conductor's Association Conducting Competition winner, Matthew Ryan grew up playing with Smithills School Senior Brass Band as they won multiple national and international titles from 2001-2008. He played with band on their high-profile tours of the USA and as a 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 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 and performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Berkshire Young Musicians Trust. In brass banding, Matthew has directed trophy and contest-winning performances across his career at North West bands including Eagley, Horwich RMI, and Flixton.

In 2022, Matthew directed Flixton Band to a gold medal performance at the World Music Contest, Kerkrade. During that year, Matthew also joined the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.

In June 2023, Matthew was delighted to win the Brass Band Conductors Association's Conducting Competition. The prize was secured by leading rehearsal on test piece repertoire and concert performances with Hammonds and Eccles bands. Matthew was recognised by the panel of judges for his "authoritative conducting" and "complete musical intent and purpose". This honour means Matthew will make his concert debut with the British Open and National Champion Fodens Band in October 2023 in an appearance at Regents Hall, London on the eve of their defence of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

In his first outing as Musical Director of the City of Bradford Brass Band, Matthew and the band secured the Best March prize and second overall at the Wainstone's Cup Contest, also known as Doctor Martin's Contest, in Yarm.