Matt Appleyard studied conducting whilst at the Royal Academy of Music, Junior Department under Peter Stark.
During his degree course at Bangor University he re-established the University's concert band with a group of friends. He is proud to say that because of the decisions they made, the band is still going strong today.
He later studied in Sheffield for a Master's degree in arts, specialising in viola performance.
During his year at Sheffield, Matt performed recitals as a soloist, as well as conducting performances with the string orchestra.
Matt has been with the Phoenix Concert Band since September 2016.