St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork welcomed their new Assistant Director of Music on Sunday 19th March 2023. Matthew Breen is a graduate of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and joins the cathedral after having been senior organ scholar of Liverpool Cathedral for two years.

The Very Rev. Nigel Dunne said:

I am pleased to welcome Matthew Breen as our new Assistant Director of Music.  It has been a ‘long haul’ since the position became vacant last October, not least for our Director of Music, Peter Stobart who has worked so hard to maintain a high standard of music in the Cathedral during that time. I wish Matthew every blessing as he joins the team here and contributes to the vibrant life of our Choral Foundation.

Peter Stobart, Director of Music at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, commented:

I am delighted that Matthew has joined the music department. I am looking forward to working with him, not only at the cathedral but also in the Diocese as part of the Church Music Scheme. Matthew will be visiting several of the Primary Schools, teaching music there and leading choirs. I’m sure that he will be a great asset to us, as he has experience in this area after working at Liverpool Cathedral.

Matthew Breen is a graduate of The Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin, where he studied organ with David Adams, attaining First-Class Honours. During this time he was a regular prize-winner at competitions including ‘Feis Ceoil’ and the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition.

Matthew is much in demand as a solo recitalist, having given performances in cathedrals, churches and concert halls throughout the UK and Ireland. As a harpsichordist and continuo player, he has appeared in opera productions and at chamber music festivals, and has performed with the Ulster Orchestra. One of Matthew’s particular focuses is on improvised music. His piano trio ‘Five To Two’ has been praised as a rejuvenating force in Irish jazz, appearing regularly at major music festivals across the
country.

From 2016-2021 Matthew was Organist and Director of Music at St Patrick’s Church, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. After that he relocated to Liverpool, where he worked as an organist and choral conductor across Merseyside, most notably as Organ Scholar at Liverpool Cathedral, studying with Ian Tracey.