Performing
Performing
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The Early Years...
Matheson's first dabblings with music were on the descant and treble recorders at school from the age of eight. Euphonium and piano lessons followed at the age of ten, and six months later Matheson was awarded a music scholarship to Hampton School.
Matheson Bayley on trombone |
Studying clarinet, trombone, double bass and harp, as well as participating in the school symphony orchestra, string orchestra, wind bands, jazz band, and choir, Matheson progressed rapidly through instrumental grade-examinations while developping extraordinary aural and improvisational abilities which were later to bring him Honours from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, at the age of 16 with an unprecedented score of 100% in every module of Grade 8 Practical Musicianship, and the Henry R Eyers prize for the highest mark at the Royal Academy of Music's Special-Level (Post-Advanced) Aural Skills at the age of 20.
Matheson's love of musical theatre was fostered at school where he acted and sang in several shows including the rôles of:
...and was introduced to his greatest influence, Stephen Sondheim, by his Performing Arts teacher, Timothy Coker (Thanks, Tim!). Tim also conducted the orchestra for Matheson's A-Level music performance in the Gershwin Piano Concerto.
Orchestral/Choral:
Matheson has sung, played tuba, trombone, euphonium, clarinet, saxophone, percussion, garklein, electric guitar, erhu, and double bass in venues such as:
Other Performances:
Matheson Bayley on cello at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. Click to enlarge. |
Matheson Bayley accompanying Virginie Pouchain at Eurovision 2006. Click to enlarge. |
- In 2006, Matheson played cello on stage at the Eurovision Song Contest for the French entry, Il Était Temps. Written by popular Rwandan singer, Corneille, and performed by Virginie Pouchain, the show was viewed by 300 000 000 people, with a live audience of 15000 at the Olympic Stadium Indoor Arena, Athens.
France having participated in the contest since 1956, Matheson was priviledged to be the first ever Englishman to perform as part of the French entry.
Three's Company |
- Played tuba, trumpet & rhythm guitar on White Room's music video of Λάκης Παπαδόπουλος' chart-topping Greek hit Σ'αγαπώ, 2006
- As part of the cabaret trio,Three's Company, 2002-3, with Benjamin Yates & Bryony Growdon at cabaret venues such as the Battersea Barge, London (piano & voice)
- Played trumpet, flute & sax on the Megalicious Chart Show, Mega Greek TV, 2006
Lakis P with Matheson Bayley on sop sax. Click to enlarge. |
Matheson Bayley on trumpet with Lakis. Click to enlarge. |
Matheson Bayley as Pirelli in Sweeney Todd. Click to enlarge. |
- The rôle of Pirelli in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd at the Electric Theatre, Guildford, Crimson House Productions, 2003
- Played trumpet & piano on the theme tune of the TV series Οι Βαρβάτοι, Greek TV Channel Αντ1, Greece, 2006
- Played guitar on the song Together We Are One with Eddie Butler for Channel 1, Israeli TV, 2006
Accompanying Six4One |
Antigone (Click to enlarge) |
Mart Sander |
Jammin'! Click to enlarge. |
Gary Parkes — Piano Agent |
Piano agent: Gary Parkes (www.garyparkes.com)
Matheson has worked extensively as a solo pianist/singer, accompanist, band member, and cocktail pianist/harpist throughout the world, most notably as/with:
Lina Koutrakos |
Holly Penfield |
Holly Penfield & Matheson Bayley in Otranto. Click to enlarge. |
Ian Ritchie |
- Legendary harmonica player, Professor “Budd” Wise, 1997 (trombone)
- Two 60's tribute rock'n'roll bands: Re:Generation & Origin, gigging throughout South East England, 1993-1999 (bass guitar)
- The prestigious Jack Samuel's Christmas Party, London, 2002 (piano)
Piano Bar Gig |
Harrods |
Helen Sharman |
- The Helen Sharman lectures (first British astronaut), H G Wells Suite, 1995 (piano)
- Regular pianist for 5 months at The Georgian Restaurant, Harrods, London, 2001
- The annual ceremonies of the Mayors of Richmond and Woking, 1995-7
- Répétiteuring for Mary Hammond's Musical Theatre Course, Royal Academy of Music, London, 2000-2
- With Desperate House Wives led by Antigoni (featuring Toni Domino), Athens, 2006-7 (keyboards & backing vox)
Matheson Bayley with the choir at Slovenia's EMA 2001. Click to enlarge. |
Matheson Bayley at the piano. Click to enlarge. |
Matheson at Slovenia's EMA 2001. Click to enlarge. |
- Special guest, playing piano for the Interval Act on Slovenian Television's Song For Europe (EMA), RTV, Ljubljana, 2001
Séverine |
Las Ketchup |
- Accompanied Las Ketchup on their international number 1 hit single Aserejé (The Ketchup Song), as well as & Séverine — winner of the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest — on the song Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue in a live 'n' unplugged gig at Γκάζι (Gkazi), Athens, 2006 (piano)
- Various piano bars and restaurants in London & Chicago
- Backing vocals for Christos Alexandrou at an HIV & AIDS charity concert, Technopolis Gkazi, Athens 2007.
- Wendy Headford's ballet classes, Masters Performing Arts College, Rayleigh, 1999 (piano)
Niamh Kavanagh |
The Savoy Hotel |
- Niamh Kavanagh, winner of the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest, Dublin, 1999 (piano)
- The Savoy Hotel, London & hotels in Capri, Copenhagen, Athens, Jerusalem, San José, Marrakech, Nairobi, New Delhi, Bangkok & Hong Kong, 2000-2003
Evelin Samuel |
Frank Carson |
- Estonian folk-singer Evelin Samuel for the OGAE UK Convention, 1999 (classical guitar) & OGAE Convention 2004 with Alex Panayi (piano & voice)
- Frank Carson's cabaret act, Bournemouth, 1998 (keyboards)
- Répétiteuring for The British Vocal Association annual conference, 2002, including master classes with Jeremy Samms & Anne-Marie Speed (piano)
- Accompanied popular Danish singer, Jette Ostan Vejrup, live on RTV, Slovenia, 2001
- Alex Panayi, concert version of Native Hue, Metrosexual Club, Istanbul, Turkey, 2004 (piano & voice)
Accompanying Jette Ostan Vejrup |
The Shadow Lounge |
The Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra |
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