Matthew’s current dissertation, “Creating Music for Military Museums,” investigates the work of British military composers and explores how their musical traditions can inform and inspire contemporary soundtrack composition for museum films and exhibitions. His research focuses on how carefully crafted music can enhance storytelling, emotional engagement, and visitor experience within historical and educational settings.

As part of this project, Matthew collaborated with the RAF Museum London to compose an original score for Intercept, a 24-minute 1970s Cold War documentary centred on British fighter jets. The soundtrack draws inspiration from traditional military music and mid-20th-century British film composers such as Malcolm Arnold and William Walton, evoking a distinctly patriotic sound that complements the film’s historical tone.

Matthew’s research has also included interviews and consultations with leading figures in military and wind band composition, including Michael McDermott, military composer and former Director of Music for the Royal Marines Band Service; Dave Gordon-Shute, Director of the Ealing Wind Orchestra; Dr Litha Efthymiou, Lecturer in Composition at LCM; and his brother Callum, a serving British Army musician. These conversations have provided valuable insight into compositional techniques, orchestration, and the enduring legacy of military music in modern contexts.