Ben

Ben is an active Jazz pianist and session musician. Ben started musical life as a chorister at Exeter Cathedral (2001-2005). More recently, Ben graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with an MA in Jazz Piano in 2015 (Merit). Whilst at college Ben studied harmony and composition under respected Jazz artists such as Huw Warren, Iain Ballamy, Nick Weldon, Dave Cliff and Steve Waterman. This has also included performance masterclasses with artists such as Gilad Hekselman Jacqui Dankworth, Empirical, Tim Garland, Stan Sulzmann, Polar Bear, Kit Downes and John Turville. Prior to college, Ben was a member of Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (2005-2010) and played at Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland in July 2010. During his time with DYJO Ben was able to attend workshops with artists such as Mark Lockheart, Mark Nightingale, Dave O’Higgins, Bruce Adams, Clark Tracey, John Etheridge and Greg Abate. Ben was also invited to attend regional masterclasses with the National Youth Jazz Collective (NYJC), whose tutors included Mark Donlon and Liam Noble. In 2010 Ben attended the Tim Richards Jazz Piano summer school in London, and studied with Nikki Yeoh and Terry Seabrook. Ben has also studied with Craig Milverton (Voted Jazz Pianist of the Year 2010 at the British Jazz Awards). Ben was awarded bursaries to attend the Jazz course with Keith Tippett at Dartington International Summer School from 2005 - 2008.