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Musical Directors

Musical Director- Mathew Wright

Mat was awarded a full Music Scholarship to attend Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield aged 8. After a successful audition he became a member of the highly regarded Wakefield Cathedral Choir, gaining the role of Head Chorister during his 6 years. He studied Violin and Viola through school, college and university and is a self taught pianist. After successfully gaining a BA (Hons) in Music from Colchester Music Institute and Leeds University he studied a PGCE at Bretton Hall College and was awarded a commendation for outstanding teaching. He took up a post at Edward Sheerien School in Barnsley and was appointed as Head of Music within his first year. During his third year of teaching he was awarded the prestigious Advanced Skills Teacher status and in 2005 he was seconded into Barnsley Authority as an Advisory Teacher for Music. Mat has worked in a variety of ways within Barnsley education and has worked with government agencies such as the DFES where he has provided material for teacher training. He occasionally lectures at Huddersfield University and has been Musical Director for a number of productions in the schools he has worked with and also assumed this role with a variety of external organisations.

During his career Mat has worked on numerous large scale commissioned productions involving in up to 500 children, including a performance at the Millennium Dome in London. He has developed a keen interest in music education and has worked alongside musicians such as Laszlo Durnayik, the conductor of world renowned Aurin Choir from the Kodaly Academy in Kecskemét, Hungary. He has worked with the Hope of Africa Choir from Uganda and has organised the delivery of Kodaly workshops to teachers and children in Barnsley. Mat has developed into a talented vocal arranger, and has produced a number of highly acclaimed compositions. He has arranged music for the outstanding Aurin Choir and was commissioned to compose a song for the Barnsley Celebration of Learning that involved 200 children. He is currently working at Kingstone Specialist School for Performing Arts as an Advanced Skills Teacher and Head of Music. He is passionate about music and education and is highly motivated to ensure that the Barnsley Youth Choir is a success both in the short and the long term.

Assistant Musical Director- Eleanor Wright

Eleanor Wright became interested in music from a young age and studied piano, violin and viola from the age of 6. She was awarded a distinction at Grade 8 on the Viola aged 14 and was selected as a member of the National Children’s Orchestra when she was 12. She also achieved Grade 8 in Piano and developed a keen interest and talent in singing that was recognised through a successful audition with Durham County Youth Choir. She studied a BA (Hons) in Music and English at Sheffield University and during this time she gained an attachement with Opera North. After gaining her degree she gained a PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University and was subsequently appointed as a primary teacher at Wellgate Primary School in Barnsley. In 2004 her outstanding teaching was recognised when she gained Advanced Skills Teacher Status, an honour bestowed on only the top 3% of teachers in the country. During her time at this school she developed large scale singing projects involving children from many areas and has received specialist training on the Kodaly technique. In addition to directing a number of musicals and writing numerous compositions for children at the school, Eleanor has also boldly written her own musical, Matilda, that was performed by the choir at Wellgate Primary School and arranged for a professional band.

During her career Eleanor has worked with numerous orchestras, string quartets and choirs, including such prominent names as the Lindsay String Quartet. For the last 10 years she has led the viola section of the Hallam Sinfonia, and performs regularly with the Southdene and Hallam String Quartets.  Eleanor is currently working as an Advanced Skills Teacher at Doncaster Road Primary School. She is a highly motivated and talented teacher and a excellent musician who brings boundless levels of energy and commitment to the choir.