Matt Rafter is a cellist, conductor, and event producer based in Dublin, Ireland. He is currently Musical Director of the Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra, and cellist of both the Vltava and Belenus String Quartets. He also works as Ensemble Manager with Crash Ensemble, Ireland’s leading new music group. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Events Management.

From 2013-14 Matt toured internationally as cellist with Irish artist Hozier, and has recorded and performed as a cellist with many other Irish artists. His passion for music education has led him to work variously as a conductor, instrumental tutor and resource worker across many different programmes and organisations. He has previously conducted Trinity Orchestra, Fingal Youth Orchestra, as well as Téada Orchestra which he co-founded in 2013.