MATTHEW MACFARLANE MUSIC

Matthew MacFarlane is an eclectic composer, guitarist, music producer and songwriter from Johannesburg. He creates and performs in a wide variety of musical styles including pop, rock, jazz, classical, electronic and indigenous styles of music.

 

His passion for music started at a young age. He started playing guitar in high school and eventually, when the opportunity presented itself, decided that he would like to pursue music seriously. He obtained a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2008. It was at University that Matthew started collaborating with the drama faculty and his first composing for theatre was done. Since then , Matthew has composed quite extensively for theatre and has been nominated for Fleur du Cap and Naledi theatre awards for best original score in a play.

 

Matthew has also worked quite extensively with dance choreographers, composing and producing music and soundscapes. His work also extends to film. In 2016, Matthew composed his first Opera, entitled Cradle Under the Shade, which was commissioned by Gauteng opera received a Naledi theatre award nomination for best children’s theatre production. In 2022, Matthew co-composed his second opera with German composer, Marc Vogler in an opera entitled At Your Doorstep. This was produced in association with the Windybrow Arts Centre and Theatre Bielefeld in Germany. 

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Matthew is a guitarist and performs a lot of his own compositions for theatre and dance. He also works as a freelance session musician playing a range of string instruments including various guitars, bass guitar, banjo, ukulele and mandolin.

 

Matthew also teaches guitar privately and in schools and has given workshops at school festivals relating to composition and stories.