Cardiff native Matt Downes has worked in classical music for nearly twenty years, and has held roles with National Youth Arts Wales, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (twice), the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and, for the last ten years, Welsh National Opera, where he became Head of Orchestra in March 2023. Matt was part of the founding cohort of the Association of British Orchestra’s “Find Your Way” professional development programme.

Since at WNO, Matt has help develop the Orchestra into one of the UK’s finest ensembles, enjoying a broad remit of concert, community engagement and touring work alongside the orchestra’s operatic remit. In recent years, the Orchestra has toured to Dubai, Hong Kong and Morocco, and holds a particularly strong relationship with the Czech Republic. In May 2023, the Orchestra opened the world-famous Prague Spring Festival, with the concert being broadcast on Czech television and in the presence of Czech President Petr Pavel. Matt’s proudest achievement whilst at WNO has been around WNO Orchestra’s unique relationship with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2024/2025, WNO Orchestra will present no fewer than eleven concerts in the Dora Stoutzker Hall, with instrumental, vocal and conducting students benefiting from wide-ranging access to the world-class musicians. The relationship between WNO Orchestra and RWCMD is an essential part of the South Wales arts ecology, attracting and retaining world-class musical talent to Cardiff and South Wales.

Away from WNO, Matt lives in Cardiff with his wife and two young children. Matt is the Chair of Governors at Radnor Primary School, a diverse inner-city school that champions active travel and the rights of young people.