Inspired by real experiences of displacement and marginalisation, the through-composed work brought more than 100 participants together across generations and cultures, culminating in sold-out performances beneath Chester Cathedral’s spectacular Peace Doves installation during Refugee Week 2025. All three performances received standing ovations from an audience of almost 500.
For Baker, the project exemplifies his belief in music’s power to bring people together. As he put it: “This project has drawn the very best out of people of very different ages and backgrounds, and shone a very bright light on positivity in community.”
The words were created by Richard Wiseman, and directed by Milly Stevenson, Cariad Morgan and Lucy Thatcher.
MATT BAKER
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- Chester Mystery Plays: …Matt Baker’s terrific score ranges from pub singalongs to majestic choruses. The Guardian, 4 star review
- Matt Baker’s music unites heaven and earth. The Observer
- James and The Giant Peach - Nuffield Theatre Southampton: I thoroughly enjoyed it, and thought that you had been very clever with the music. You cleverly took some of my dialogue and turned it into snatches of song, with very tuneful melodies. This was exactly the kind of treatment I wanted my adaptation to have.David Woods - playwright
- Matt Baker’s excellent score. Liverpool Daily Post
- A Christmas Carol, Dukes Lancaster: ..and the music score is a sheer delight. It’s beautifully sung and played too by an excellent cast. The Dukes must produce a CD of the shows soundtrack what a splendid stocking-filler it would make! Lancaster UK Online
- My staff tell me that you were truly inspirational in a way that they will never forget. Dr Lesley Cooke - singing workshop at University of Chester, 2016
- The evening entertainment was phenomenal! - (I had so much fun and I could see the sheer enjoyment on the faces of my colleagues). Hilary Berry - Chair of Cheshire West Association of Primary Heads
- A Christmas Carol, Dukes Lancaster: The musical direction, by Matt Baker, was one of the highlights of the show, and the lovely arrangements of festive tunes were performed beautifully by the cast, providing a fantastic accompaniment to the dramatic action.The Westmorland Gazette
- What I learned about your sessions was your sense of fun and the way you sorted a room full of over a hundred people into harmony parts and had them singing in half an hour. You are a fantastic teacher and you remain so positive too. One of the really amazing things that you can do is that you can SING ALL THE PARTS!! It is amazing. To have a male teacher who can sing my part is amazing. You were such a good influence on everybody. Your influence on the children was electrifying. You have so many talents. Thank you for all your hard work and the beautiful music you composed. Participant
- Theatre in the Quarter, the group which began modestly in the Garden Quarter area of Chester and which now attracts professional actors with impressive track records and huge reputations to its productions…..It will take something incredible for Theatre in the Quarter to top all this in 2013 but if there is one person who can manage that feat, it’s Matt Baker.Chester Chronicle, January 2013
- Yet Hope I: "Intensely beautiful"Prince Charles, 2014
- Words cannot say how thankful we are for the beautiful song you composed for our school. Today's assembly was off the scale in terms of energy and inspiration and we are so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with you. You really are one of the most talented and inspirational people I have ever worked with and I really hope we can work together again. The praise is rolling in from staff, parents, UNICEF assessors and children. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Roz Artist - teacher, Cherry Grove School, Chester, April 2017
- Everyone commented on what great sessions you led and were asking when you would be back! Amy Robinson - Peer Support Group Facilitator, Alzheimer’s Society
- Amazing and inspirational sessions. Thanks for being part of our Roadshow for teachers and delivering fabulous content. Everyone had such a lot of fun. Thank you! Alita Mills - Head of Education, Stagecoach Theatre Arts UK
- You blew us away and really set the bar high for our first rehearsal. Thank you so much as we all thoroughly enjoyed you leading us. What a great and uplifting song! Wish you were based in London. Mathurot - Making Music UK
- Thank you' for the work you did with our choir. You pitched it perfectly. I have had so much positive feedback from choir members about how helpful it was. It has given us the confidence we need to move forward.Liverpool LGBT Chorus
- I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU for last week - you really were amazing with what you did and so natural with it, it was incredible to watch. The feedback from the client and the attendees has been brilliant, I am so grateful to you for absolutely smashing it!!Kate Hellon - House of Live
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