Matt Roberts

Matt Roberts is a trumpeter, composer and conductor that grew up in Darlington, in the north-east of England. He works primarily in the jazz and commercial worlds, but has a love for all music. He is a member of the band Gentlemen’s Dub Club with whom he has released a number of albums and toured extensively.

Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and the role of music in your life up until now?

My name is Matt Roberts. My first musical experiences were playing cornet in a youth brass band in my hometown of Darlington. In my teens I discovered jazz and switched to trumpet. Then I went to Leeds Conservatoire to study jazz formally. There I discovered a love for composition and arranging and then went to TrinityLaban Conservatoire of Music and Dance to study composition. I’ve since worked as a session trumpeter, an arranger, conductor, orchestration and composer. I’m also a passionate educator and teach at TrinityLaban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Goldsmiths University.

What/who inspired you to want to become a musician?

My comprehensive school music teacher and the brass teacher that took our local youth big band.

Could you share with us a musical and/or life highlight? How did it make you feel?

I recently conducted an orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall accompanying one of my favourite artists, Cleo Sol. The show also featured Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka and Chronixx. It felt like a coming together of all my skill sets. It was such a beautiful musical community. What a privilege!

Could you say a few words about how music relates to mental health from your perspective?

Music means that I’ll never have an existential crisis. I’ve always been obsessed with music, I know I always will be. It gives me such a purpose!

What do you feel you can offer to a participant? What are your areas of special interest?!

My specialisms are harmony, arranging and orchestration. In my experience, these are a lot of areas of study that aren’t typically accessible to everyone. I’m also a producer, so feel comfortable mentoring from that perspective too.

Why is being part of Seed Sessions important to you?

It’s great to be part of such a wonderful team of musicians. It’s a privilege to share my love of music.