Matthew Ford is the UK’s most experienced big band and orchestral vocalist, renowned for his interpretations of the classic repertoire and his work with major orchestras, big bands and international concert productions. He spent five years as lead vocalist with the multi-award-winning Syd Lawrence Orchestra, and in 2006 was voted Best UK Male Big Band Vocalist, subsequently receiving a nomination alongside Jamie Cullum in the inaugural Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Awards.

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Alongside his work as a big band vocalist, Matthew has established a distinguished career as a concert soloist. He performs regularly with the BBC Concert Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and has appeared with many of the UK's leading ensembles, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Philharmonia Orchestra and Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with leading conductors including John Wilson, Neil Thompson, David Brophy, Robert Ziegler, Richard Balcombe, Anthony Gabriele, Larry Blank and Sofi Jeannin.

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Matthew is a regular collaborator with the BBC Big Band, John Wilson Orchestra and LP Swing Orchestra, as well as numerous other leading ensembles. His performances have taken him across the UK and internationally, including appearances for royalty and major cultural events. He has also performed at some of the UK's most prestigious venues and festivals, including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Bridgewater Hall, Festival Hall and the BBC Proms.

His extensive broadcasting career includes regular appearances on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Four, BBC One, ITV and Sky Arts, as well as broadcasts throughout Ireland on RTÉ Radio and Lyric FM. He has featured in major productions including Friday Night Is Music Night, Big Band Special, Sound of Song, The Warner Bros Story and Hollywood Rhapsody. His fourth BBC Proms appearance with the John Wilson Orchestra was broadcast live on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3, before being repeated on BBC Radio 2.

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Matthew's work with John Wilson has included the first concert performance of the original film score for Singin' in the Rain, reconstructed by Wilson and performed at the Royal Festival Hall, as well as performances at the Berliner Philharmonie in Berlin, streamed internationally via the Digital Concert Hall. He has also recorded at Abbey Road Studios, including the EMI Classics album That's Entertainment, celebrating the MGM musical tradition.

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A specialist in the music of the great American songbook, Matthew has performed extensively in productions celebrating Frank Sinatra, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, James Bond and the golden age of Hollywood. His concert work includes nationwide tours of Simply Sinatra, A Celebration of Sinatra, Rags to Ritzes and 100 Years of Big Bands, alongside performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, John Wilson Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and London Concert Orchestra.

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His recording career includes The Swing Thing, The Art of Romantic Song, Live & Swinging! and Memories of Christmas, the latter recorded with National Brass Band Champions Foden's. In 2021 he returned to Abbey Road's iconic Studio Two to record his big band album From Abbey Road, released in 2022. The album's first single reached No. 1 on the iTunes Jazz Chart and the UK Top 40.

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Matthew has also developed an international profile, with performances and broadcasts in Sweden, France, Germany, Ireland, and the United States. His international engagements have included performances with the Orchestre National de Lyon, Radio France and the Berliner Philharmoniker, as well as appearances with US and European orchestras and at major festivals.

Recent years have seen Matthew continue to combine large-scale orchestral work, big band performances, recording and festival appearances. Highlights have included performances with the Halle Orchestra, Opera North, BBC Big Band, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack and the LP Swing Orchestra, alongside international engagements and a growing programme of 100 Years of Big Bands, At the Movies and Simply Sinatra.

With a career spanning four decades working with major orchestras, big bands, broadcasting, recording and international concert work, Matthew Ford has become a distinctive and highly sought-after voice in the world of big band and orchestral entertainment.