Matthew Lloyd-Wilson (b. 1999) is a British conductor whose work is distinguished by clarity of gesture, disciplined rehearsal technique, and a strongly collaborative approach to music-making. His developing career is marked by rapid progression and notable international recognition. He is the youngest-ever Principal Conductor of the University of Southampton Symphony Orchestra and the recent winner of the International Hans Swarowsky Conducting Competition in Milan. Additional honours include a fourth-place award at the International Orchestra Conducting Competition in Bucharest and his international conducting debut with the Royal Strings of St George in Serbia.

Matthew’s path to the podium began early. After a BBC Proms debut at the age of twelve and a live performance on international television to an audience exceeding two billion, he conducted his first public concert at thirteen. This early exposure to high-profile performance environments has shaped his calmness under pressure, his ability to communicate efficiently with musicians, and his sensitivity to musical intention at all levels of ensemble.

As a violinist, Matthew has performed at the Royal Albert Hall with artists such as YUNGBLUD, Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher, Madness, and Don Broco, contributing to fundraising efforts surpassing £2 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust. These experiences across classical, pop, and cross-genre settings inform his rhythmic precision, adaptability, and respect for the individual musical language of each performer — qualities he brings directly into his conducting practice.

A former music scholar at Winchester College, Matthew went on to lead both the Hampshire and Surrey Youth Orchestras before turning professional. Along the way he won five Young Musician of the Year titles and four concerto competitions. His commitment to education is a central pillar of his work: as Music Director of the Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra he transformed the ensemble into a sustainable charity providing free orchestral training to more than 200 young musicians annually. He also teaches on the National String Course, coaches ensembles at the Royal Grammar School Guildford, and serves as an adjudicator for the Haslemere International String Competition. He maintains a continuing involvement in the RGS String Scheme, most recently reprising the narrator role in Jonathan Willcocks’ orchestral setting of How the Whale Got His Throat.

Matthew seeks artistic environments that challenge, refine, and stretch his musical language. He values rehearsal processes that are efficient, respectful, and grounded in shared intention, and he is committed to developing a conducting practice that balances precision with openness, structure with creativity, and leadership with genuine musical partnership. His work is driven by curiosity, integrity, and a deep belief in the long-term social and artistic value of orchestral music.