Matthew Cann was educated at Thee King's School, Gloucester. Whilst there, he was a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral, progressing to head chorister under the direction of Dr John Sanders. Matthew took part in the first performance and broadcast of the Sanders Reproaches and as head chorister, gained the experience in singing in the famous Three Choirs Festivals that took place in Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford. His further education took him to Colchester to study piano and voice where he gained a first in piano performance. After Colchester he went to Oxford where he gained his post-graduate teaching diploma in secondary music.
Once his education was finished, he became a Lay Clerk at Norwich Cathedral, as well as teaching piano and being an examiner for the Royal School of Church Music. He has been a Lay Vicar of Exeter Cathedral Choir since September 2006 and is a piano and singing teacher at Exeter School. During his time at Gloucester, Norwich and Exeter Cathedrals he has been involved in numerous television appearances, radio broadcasts, tours and recordings. He has sung in front of Royalty and through those choirs worked with such prominent composers as the late John Taverner and Arvo Pärt. He writes mainly for unaccompanied choir and has had his anthem In manus tuas, (featured on this recording) broadcast on BBC Radio 3. As well as directing Antiphon, he has been a guest conductor for Buckfast Abbey Choir, Thee St. Peter's Singers of Exeter Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral Choir.