The rare auditory skill is believed to exist in one in 10,000 people and the 26-year-old Idea Services client and Irish music fanatic is one of those rare few.
In September, Mr Rhodes, originally of Balclutha, will travel to music hot spots in Ireland and Northern Ireland with his support worker and friend Chris Butchard, who is also a musician.
Mr Butchard said the trip, which was being partly funded by a Givealittle page, was a dream come true for Mr Rhodes.
''In a lovely way it's never been a case of he's never not going to go, or he is going to go.
''For Mathew it has always been something he believed in.''
Mr Rhodes was particularly competent at playing the tin whistle and his love of Irish culture, music and the occasional Guinness would be sated during visits to Dublin, Galway and Belfast, Mr Butchard said.
The pair had played gigs together and won the South Dunedin Busking Festival in February.
Winning the festival reinforced the idea that a trip abroad was possible, Mr Butchard said.
''It gave me the encouragement to think seriously this can happen, because who wants to get in the way of such a cause?''
Mr Rhodes's parents Jodie and Lindsay Rhodes, of Balclutha, and other staff at Idea Services had been fundamental in helping the plan come to fruition.
During the 10-day trip, Mr Rhodes planned to visit Buckingham Palace and London Zoo and ''jam'' with Irish musicians.
He also hoped to meet one of his musical idols, who ranged from Bob Dylan and The Pogues to Adele.
The prospect of sharing the trip with Mr Rhodes was ''really really exciting'', Mr Butchard said.
''Obviously it is going to be a joy.''
