Matthew Agba | Where Classical Music, Education and African Culture Meet.
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Meet Matthew Agba
In this interview, Mark created Matthew Agba's fantasy cultural year from the answers to some easy questions to which there were no wrong answers.
Mark had a time machine and magic wand at his disposal, so expect some surprises, laughs, anecdotes and conversational detours.
For Matthew Agba, music is not something that simply happens between the beginning and end of a performance. It is a profession, a teaching practice, a research interest and, rather importantly, a way of connecting people.
A professional pianist, organist, music educator and researcher based in Lagos, Nigeria, Matthew has built a career around making music accessible, developing musical talent and exploring the relationship between creative practice and wider social development.
For Matthew, the music world should be something people can enter, explore and participate in, rather than an exclusive club where everyone is expected to know their scales before arriving.
Matthew's professional life has long revolved around music. As a pianist and organist, he has performed recitals over several years and developed experience across a range of musical settings. His performance work has taken him across 27 Nigerian states, alongside international teaching engagements in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
He is also an active church organist, bringing his musical skills into worship and community life. His experience includes serving as organist at All Saints' Chapel, University of Benin, and playing at the Chapel of the Healing Cross in Lagos.
Alongside performing, Matthew teaches piano and music-related subjects, prepares students for professional examinations and develops teaching materials designed to make musical learning more accessible.
His qualifications and professional development include a Diploma in Music Theory, a Certificate of Achievement from the American International Music Competition 2024, and several certificates from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), including continuing professional development in Developing Musicianship Skills.
He has also completed further music studies through Alison, including piano improvisation.
Matthew's teaching approach is informed by the understanding that students learn differently. His work includes preparing students for examinations with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Trinity and International School of Musicians qualifications. He also develops instructional materials and adapts teaching methods to support students as they progress.
Since 2020, he has taught at Mountain Top University in Ogun State, where his work includes teaching music entrepreneurship through piano performance and musical practice. This combines practical musicianship with an introduction to the commercial and organisational side of the music industry.
In 2013, Matthew founded Matt-Agba Music Consult in Lagos, establishing a business around music education, consultancy and creative development.
As Founder and Director, he oversees the organisation's educational and business activities, including strategic planning, financial management, artist management and curriculum development. The organisation provides music education services through in-person and online teaching, with opportunities for students to explore different instruments and develop their musical abilities.
Matthew brings additional management experience to this role. Between 2017 and 2023, he served as Administrative Head of Institute and Piano Teacher at HarryField Music Academy in Lagos. He managed a team of thirteen staff, supervised different operational departments and oversaw educational programmes, teaching materials and service delivery.
His earlier experience as Resident Pianist and Artistic Director at G's Classical Resource in Abuja also brought together musical direction, performance and event management.
The combination of these roles gives Matthew an understanding of music from several perspectives: as an artist, a teacher, a business owner and someone responsible for helping creative organisations function effectively.
Matthew represents Nigeria at the International School of Musicians (ISM), London, where he supports international music education and opportunities for emerging musicians. He also leads West African collaborations and creative development.
His research explores the connections between music, health and community development. Through GoodChoir Nigeria and Maravent Health USA, he investigates music’s potential to support mental health, education and social inclusion.
As an African Research Councillor at the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development, London Business School, he also examines sustainable development, community dynamics and public policy. His wider research includes work with institutions in Nigeria, Germany and India.
In both music and cultural research, Matthew's work is about understanding people, identifying opportunities and exploring how knowledge and creative activity can improve everyday life.
Matthew Agba's Fantasy Cultural Year ... with a magic wand and a time machine to hand.
Every Arts and Culture Network member is invited to embark on a Fantasy Cultural Year—an imaginary twelve-month journey designed around their passions, curiosity and imagination.
It begins in central London, on a warm June evening. Matthew Agba is sitting outside a café overlooking St Paul's Cathedral, admiring the architecture and on the table next to him is a glass of iced glacier water. No extravagant cocktail or complicated coffee order here. Matthew is quite happy with water, thank you very much.
Beside it sits a collection of musical scores, including the preludes, fugues and toccatas of Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach is not simply someone whose music Matthew enjoys playing; he is someone whose compositions continue to inspire his musical thinking.
Matthew has arrived from a meeting with a wealthy London family foundation, and they have decided to fund an entire year of international musical adventures. First-class travel, excellent accommodation, an international performance and education programme, a television documentary crew, a book deal, a TED Talk and a university lecture tour are all included.
The idea is simple: take music education around the world, introduce young people to different instruments and musical traditions, and show what happens when creative opportunities are made accessible.
London: A dream at St Paul's
London is Matthew's first stop, and he has one particular ambition: to visit St Paul's Cathedral.
A group of young musicians takes him to an apartment overlooking the cathedral before an evening of dance and music. For the performance, Matthew chooses the waltz. There is something about its elegance, movement and musical structure that appeals to him. The foundation arranges a spectacular performance inspired by the great Viennese New Year's Day concerts, with the music of Johann Strauss filling the room.
Dinner follows, and the menu is considerably less formal than the concert. Spicy chicken and fried yams are the order of the evening.
Toronto: Classical music and football loyalties
Next, the tour crosses the Atlantic to Toronto, Canada.
The foundation has introduced a challenge: Matthew must spend an entire year listening exclusively to one musical genre, to which he eventually settles on classical. It is a broad enough category to keep him occupied, particularly with Bach, Beethoven and the many composers whose works have shaped the musical world.
Toronto also happens to be hosting a major sporting celebration. Matthew is offered the opportunity to watch any sport he chooses, to which his answer is immediate: football.
The match is Nigeria against Argentina. Matthew supports Nigeria, but he also has a particular affection for Argentina, making this a slightly complicated afternoon of international loyalties.
Vienna: Bach takes centre stage
From Toronto, Matthew travels back to Europe, arriving in Vienna, Austria. The city has a rich musical history, and the famous Musikverein provides the perfect setting for an exploration of its concert culture.
Matthew is taken to an immersive digital art gallery, where virtual reality technology allows visitors to step inside famous works of art of the artist of their choice. His answer is Johann Sebastian Bach.
Now, Bach was better known for composing music than producing paintings, but that is hardly going to stop a good cultural adventure. Matthew imagines stepping into a portrait of the composer, surrounded by the musical world that inspires him.
He even has a colour in mind. A soft mauve, light blue and almost blue-white shade, inspired by the cover of a Bach Little Fugue score he owns.
Perhaps it is not the conventional gallery choice, but then this is not a conventional cultural year.
A week of cultural evenings in London
The tour returns to London for a week dedicated to the performing arts.
Monday: African art music
Matthew is interested in the ways African musical traditions can be expressed through piano composition and performance. The evening offers an opportunity to celebrate African musical creativity and introduce new audiences to its distinctive sounds.
Tuesday: Theatre
A night at the theatre provides a change of pace, with an opportunity to explore storytelling and live performance beyond the concert hall.
Wednesday: Chicago
For the West End musical, Matthew chooses Chicago. The jazz influences, energetic performances and musical arrangements make it a natural choice for someone who enjoys both jazz and classical music.
Thursday: The Marriage of Figaro
Opera takes centre stage with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.
Matthew has wanted to experience this opera, and the foundation makes sure he gets the opportunity. It is an evening of elaborate musical writing, theatrical storytelling and some rather impressive vocal performances.
Friday: The Fighting Temptations
Matthew chooses The Fighting Temptations, the musical comedy featuring a gospel choir and a soundtrack full of musical performances.
Sharing the music
As the international tour continues, Matthew's documentary begins attracting attention.
The programme follows his work with young musicians, exploring different instruments, teaching methods and musical traditions. From piano and organ to instruments from other parts of the world, the emphasis is on giving people the chance to experience music for themselves.
The accompanying book develops into something more substantial than a conventional account of a world tour. It includes stories from young musicians, conversations with local educators and reflections on how music education differs across communities.
Matthew also begins developing ideas for his university lectures, drawing on his experience in Nigeria and his international collaborations.
The central message is that music education should not be limited by geography, background or access to traditional institutions.
A hero lunch with family
The year reaches its celebratory conclusion in London. Matthew is invited to choose anyone in the world, from any period in history, to join him.
He chooses his wife and when Mark asks who she would invite, Matthew brings his daughter into the conversation too.
After a year of international travel, performances, prestigious venues and cultural experiences, family remains at the centre of the celebration. The menu, naturally, includes spicy chicken and fried yams.
Matt Agba's contact details.
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Mark Walmsley FRSA FCIM AGSM
Chief Culture Vulture
Arts & Culture Network
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