BENJAMIN GOODSON

Benjamin reads music at Hertford College, Oxford, and is a tenor choral scholar at St. Peter's College. He began conducting at a young age: while still at school, Benjamin organised and conducted an evening of orchestral music, raising several thousand pounds for the Epiphany Trust. Before beginning his degree, he was invited to become the youngest person to conduct at Pigott's Music Camp, where he performed a programme of Baroque choral music that included Handel's Dixit Dominus.

At Oxford, he has won both conducting prizes open to undergraduates, leading to tenures with the University's leading ensembles, including its Philharmonia. In 2011 Benjamin founded the Oxford-based Solis Ensemble, an eighteenth-century ensemble that is fast gaining a reputation for being the city's best chamber orchestra. Solis gathers those many musicians at Oxford whose long-term aspiration is to be a professional orchestral peformer together with music college graduates yet to secure a seat in a London orchestra.

Equally comfortable in front of choirs, Benjamin was recently selected as incoming conductor of the Lea Singers, an active and accomplished chamber choir based in Hertfordshire. Benjamin studies conducting privately with Peter Stark (RCM), Paul Spicer (Finzi Singers) and Colin Metters (RAM).

An experienced pianist, Benjamin played for many years under Robert Pepper in the English Schools' Orchestra. He is employed as an accompanist by Portland Place School, London, and is in regular demand as a reptiteur and exam accompanist. As well as his regular singing commitments in Oxford, Benjamin deputises at St. Albans Cathedral, and intends to uptake a full Lay Clerkship in June 2012.

Benjamin is also interested in music history. He has written an extended piece on unity and spirituality in Arvo Pärt's music and has contributed news articles to the BBC Music Magazine website. He is currently performing a detailed analysis on Frank Bridge's 'Suite for Strings'.