Following a global search, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is delighted to announce the appointment of acclaimed British sound engineer Matt Jones as head of its new state‑of‑the‑art recording studios in Wellington.

Opening in February 2027, Te Ngākau Recording Studios sits within the seismically strengthened and beautifully refurbished Wellington Town Hall, at the heart of Te Ngākau Civic Square. Bringing together the NZSO, the acoustically celebrated Adam Auditorium, and cutting-edge recording facilities, the studios will deliver seamless, end-to-end recording services for both symphonic and screen projects.

Matt brings extensive experience for his role as the studio’s Principal Audio Engineer, having spent more than a decade at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios, where he most recently held the position of Senior Recordist. Since joining Abbey Road in 2012, he has worked alongside many of the industry’s leading engineers and composers on a wide range of orchestral film, television and game soundtracks, and contemporary recordings.

Recent film projects include Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (composer Danny Elfman), Frankenstein (Alexandre Desplat), In the Blink of an Eye (Thomas Newman) and Pinocchio (Alan Silvestri). His game credits include Halo 5: Guardians, God of War: Ascension, Star Wars: Battlefront and Titanfall 2, which featured additional music recorded by the NZSO.

Matt has also worked on sessions with well‑known artists including Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Ozzy Osbourne, Little Simz and Morgan Wallen, and premier ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Manchester Collective.

NZSO Chief Executive Marc Feldman says the appointment marked a major milestone for the orchestra and its recording ambitions.

“Appointing Matt Jones to lead Te Ngākau Recording Studios is a pivotal step for the NZSO — his international standing and depth of experience will help realise the full global potential of this extraordinary new addition to New Zealand's film and music industry.”

Matt has a lifelong connection to music. He began learning the trombone at age seven, later teaching himself guitar, and performed in brass ensembles and metal bands throughout his teenage years. He studied Music and Sound Recording through the prestigious Tonmeister degree course at the University of Surrey, before spending a formative year at Angel Studios in London, gaining hands‑on experience in large‑scale professional orchestral recording ahead of joining Abbey Road.

While this will be his first time based outside the United Kingdom, Matt is familiar with Aotearoa New Zealand through his partner, who is a New Zealander, and has spent long stints visiting with their young family.

Matt says he’s excited to join the NZSO at a key time.

“Everything I hear or read about, and every photo or video I see of the work that's been done in the Town Hall so far gives me so much confidence that a truly world-class recording facility will exist there once it opens. When the interview process was over and Marc asked me to come and work for the NZSO to lead the recordings they make in that facility, I wore a grin across my face nonstop for the rest of the week!

“Being granted the opportunity to get in, essentially at ground level, and to help shape the way this new venture operates and grows is an enormous privilege” he says.

“The orchestra has the quality and the experience to work on the biggest, most demanding projects. With this heavily upgraded space to work in, Wellington will become a premier destination for anyone around the world looking to record top-tier orchestral music. I can't wait to bring what I've learned and experienced so far, during my career in London, to help propel things in that direction.

“I'm incredibly excited to meet the players, and most of all, for that first time I get to stand by the conductor and hear the sound they make together in such an amazing space.”

Matt takes up the role in June and will oversee the delivery of a wide range of recording projects, supporting both NZSO activities and international clients. With his expertise and creative vision, the new studio is expected to play a key role in positioning Wellington as a leading destination for orchestral recording in the years ahead.

The name Te Ngākau was gifted by Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui and carries the meaning of ‘heart’.