We are delighted to have appointed Benjamin Goodson as our new conductor.

Benjamin is soon to complete his music degree at Hertford College, Oxford, where he is also a tenor choral scholar at St. Peter’s College. At Oxford, he has won both conducting prizes open to undergraduates, leading to tenures with the University’s leading ensembles, including its Philharmonia. Benjamin works with the Oxford-based Solis Ensemble, an eighteenth-century group he founded that is fast gaining a reputation for being the city’s finest chamber orchestra. Benjamin studies conducting with Peter Stark (RCM), Paul Spicer (Finzi Singers) and Colin Metters (RAM).

An experienced pianist, Benjamin 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 take up a full-time Lay Clerkship in June 2012. He is also interested in music history: Benjamin has written an extended piece on unity and spirituality in Arvo Pärt’s music, an detailed analysis of Frank Bridge’s ‘Suite for Strings’, and has contributed news articles to the BBC Music Magazine website

 The Lea Singers are very grateful to Peter Foggitt and Craig McLeish, who have agreed to deputise for Ben until he completes his degree. Ben conducted his first concert with the Lea Singers on Saturday 24 March.