Meet the Team
GYSO is currently run by a team of volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to produce these courses and concerts.
Find out more about each of the team members below.
Matthew Lloyd-Wilson
Matthew conducted in his first public concert at the age of 13. Since then, he has taken every opportunity to learn, perform and work with talented musicians. Matthew has now been studying conducting with the postgraduate professor at the Royal College of Music, Peter Stark for 10 years.
Matthew had an exciting early career as a chorister at Westminster Abbey singing for TV and radio broadcasts of numerous state occasions, the Royal Wedding, and several recordings for Chandos. He sang for the Pope in St. Peter's, Rome, toured Moscow and made his BBC Proms début as a treble soloist in Mahler's Das klagende Lied with the BBC Symphony orchestra and chorus, eventually becoming the Senior Queens Chorister. A three-part T.V. documentary on the life of Westminster Abbey featured Matthew as a soloist, singing the lower treble part in Allegri's Miserere.
During Matthew’s secondary school years, he led several youth orchestras and sang as a volunteer tenor at Guildford Cathedral. Competition successes as a violinist include the 4 regional festival cups and 5 young musician of the year cups. At University, Matthew conducted the University String Orchestra, founded the English Virtuosi, and became the director of the Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra. Since graduating has also built relationships with the Surrey County Youth Orchestra, Kingston Philharmonia, Winchester Symphony Orchestra, Instant Opera, Guildford Opera, Rose Opera, and Hampshire County Youth Orchestra. Recent appointments include the musical director of the Claud Powell Chamber Orchestra and the Surrey Music Academy. Matthew is also an active soloist, leader, recitalist, and chamber musician.
Ben Qureshi
Ben Qureshi is an inspiring conductor based in the South of England. A trombonist and singer in his childhood, Ben first took up the baton at university, becoming Assistant Conductor of the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra in 2021. Upon returning from a year abroad in Paris, studying musicology at the Sorbonne, Ben studied conducting with Robin Browning.
In 2024, Ben was awarded the Bob and Beryl Harding Conducting Bursary and made assistand conductor of the Havant Symphony Orchestra. After graduating at the top of his year, Ben has taken the role of Musical director of Southampton University Chamber Choir and regualarly conducts their Sinfonietta. He was also appointed Chorus Master of the Slough Philharmonic and Musical Director of South-East Hampshire Youth Orchestra in 2025.
Ben joined GYSO in 2023 as a member of the trombone section before becoming the orchestra's assistant conductor in 2024.
Josephine Connor
Josephine is a flautist currently studying as a postgraduate scholar at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Kevin Gowland, Cormac Henry, and Janet Richardson. Her studies are supported by the Wavendon Foundation and The Dobie Award. She completed her BMus degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating with multiple prizes and a First-Class Honours degree after studying with Sarah Bennington, Matthew Featherstone, and Lindsey Ellis. During her time there, she performed with many ensembles, including a side-by-side with the Welsh National Opera.
A passionate chamber musician, she founded Res Novus, a guitar and flute duo, in 2022, and the Anatis Flute Trio in 2020, performing across the country in concerts and schools, including working with musical charities.
Music is more than performance to Josephine; she has worked as the Orchestral Manager at Wells Cathedral School, amongst other roles, and as an instrumental tutor. She teaches both privately and with One Education Music in Manchester, teaching woodwinds as well as leading two of their wind bands. She also works with the National Childrens' Orchestras as a support team member for both their projects and nationals courses.
In her spare time, she enjoys a hike, wild swim and plenty of chocolate!