Download The Band of the Royal Air Force College Director of Music Squadron

The Band of the
Royal Air Force College
Director of Music Squadron Leader Matthew Little GTCL(Hons) FTCL LRSM Dip TCL RAF
Squadron Leader Matthew Little was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire and
began his musical career at an early age as a boy chorister and trombonist
with Hertfordshire county Youth Orchestra. He went on to study at Trinity
College of Music London, graduating in 1992 before joining Royal Air
Force Music Services as a bass trombonist and vocalist with the Central
Band of the RAF.
During the past 23 years, Squadron Leader Little has appeared as a vocal
soloist at many memorable engagements with RAF Music Services. These
include the Festival of Remembrance, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo,
Songs of Praise (BBC) and the Royal Military Tattoo. Squadron Leader
Little has been the main featured soloist on the RAF Charitable Trust
Massed Bands Tour for 22 years and this year will see his third
performance at West End Heroes at the Dominion Theatre in London,
alongside some of the leading names from the West End and military
musicians. Along with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Squadron
Leader Little appeared as the main vocal soloist at the Basel Military
Tattoo and the Basel Christmas Festival in 2014.
Away from the RAF, Squadron Leader Little has performed as a session singer in London for over
21 years. Television appearances include the Royal Variety Performance, X Factor, The Graham
Norton Show, Britains’ Got Talent and the National Lottery with Capital Voices. In the West End he
has provided vocals for Cats, Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Starlight Express. He has also
provided vocals for film soundtracks including Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar
and Around the World in 80 Days. In recent years, Squadron Leader Little has performed in the
John Wilson BBC Proms in particular as a featured soloist in 2011 and will appear on the John
Wilson Bernstein Prom during 2015. He has also performed on tours of We’ll Meet Again with
Angela Ripon and June Whitfield, and White Christmas for Raymond Gubbay. He has recorded
albums for Michael Ball, plus “That’s Entertainment” - MGM Musicals and “Rodgers and
Hammerstein At The Movies” for John Wilson. Other concert performances include Legend of
Zelda with the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, a concert tour with the BBC Concert Orchestra and
composer Danny Elfman, and a series of concerts entitled Bond and Beyond with Louise Dearman
and the London Concert Orchestra in 2013 and the BT Christmas Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
During 2014 Squadron Leader Little provided vocals for a new US television series “Galavant” and
was the featured vocal soloist for “1914 The Carol of Christmas” a charity Christmas single that
raised thousands of pounds for military charities and reached number one in the Christmas
download charts. Closer to home, Squadron Leader Little has been a member of the Lincoln
Cathedral Choir.
Squadron Leader Little was appointed Director of Music of the Band of the RAF Regiment in
August 2008 following completion of Initial Officer Training Course No. 10 at the RAF College,
Cranwell, for which he was awarded the MacRoberts Prize. He assumed command of the Band of
the RAF College in January 2010. During these tours, he received two AOC Commendations for
the Anthems in the Park events, performing with Hayley Westenra in 2010 and Brian May and
Kerry Ellis in 2011. Squadron Leader Little returned to the Band of the RAF Regiment in January
2012 where memorable performances include conducting in front of India Gate on the Band’s
recent tour of India as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Squadron Leader Little
resumed command of the Band of the RAF College in 2014, after a short secondment as DOM
HQMS earlier in the year. Matthew was promoted to Squadron Leader in July 2015 and currently
lives in Lincolnshire with his son Sam and his wife Heather, who is also a singer.
www.raf.mod.uk/rafmusic