“My name is Matthew Allen. I’m a Lisburn boy, born and raised, and have taught piano and violin since I left school. After all these years flying solo, it’s great finally to be part of a wonderful team in The Musician Academy.

With grade eight in piano from London College under my belt, I sat my performance diploma (DipLCM) with a programme that included Mozart and Chopin, as well as contemporary composer Michael Nyman. (Any fans of Einaudi or Giurioli — Einaudi 2.0, as I like to call him — will adore Nyman too!)

Music, for me, has been more of an escape than an academic subject; though it was one of my GCSEs, and an enjoyable one too. My degree, which I finished in 2021 through Queen’s, was in Liberal Arts and Theology. This brings me to my other passion in life: writing Christian reflections. If that’s your thing, you can find my ramblings on Patheos.com.

Outside The Musician Academy, church — as you might, already, have guessed — is a big interest. I’m active in Eglantine Parish near Culcavy, where I go to Mass and teach Sunday school. I sing bass in our parish choir, too, but I’m no Michael Ball…

My favourite author has to be Stephen King, because I’m that original. Top three King novels for me: Misery, Pet Sematary, and ’Salem’s Lot, in that order. I wasn’t fussed on The Shining, though. Sorry Joey.

But enough about me. What are your musical goals? Ever fancied trying Beethoven’s Für Elise on the piano, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on the violin, or — who knows? — maybe both? If so, don’t hesitate; I’d love you to get in touch!”