Matthew McIlree is a third year Campbell Watterson Organ Scholar at the University of St. Andrews, where he has taken up both piano and organ scholarships alongside his degree in mathematics and computer science.

He began learning piano and violin in 2005 and achieved a place at the Music School of Douglas Academy in 2012. There, he took up organ and studied with David Hamilton from 2013, having been introduced to the instrument at his local church.

He regularly accompanies services sung by St Salvator’s Chapel Choir under the direction of Claire Innes-Hopkins, as well as playing locally at St Colm's RC Parish Kilmacolm.