Benjamin began learning the cello at the age of 8 and worked with Ben Eckersley all the way through to achieving a Distinction at Grade 8 in 2014. He has since gone on to study performance in both a solo and ensemble context at the University of Leeds as part of his BA Music degree - particular highlights include performing a number of world premiers in the contemporary music ensemble 'LSTwo' under the baton of renowned composer Mic Spencer, including solo roles in a number of pieces, such as Marc Yeats' 'Always the Beautiful Answer', as well as a year under the tuition of Alfia Nakipbekova of the Bekova Trio.
Benjamin is also a keen orchestral player, spending time as a member of the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra, even during his years in Leeds. This, along with his membership of various ensembles as part of the Leeds University Union Music Society (LUUMS) has resulted in performing abroad on multiple occasions including a tour to Italy in the summer of 2018 as section principal. As well as this, Benjamin performed in the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe for a run of three weeks for Try This At Home Theatre's 'The Local'. In his final year at university, Benjamin was manager of the LUUMS Chamber Orchestra, and through collaboration with the society's Composers' Ensemble has had a number of his pieces premiered, including his recently composed 'Suite for Solo Cello'. More recently, Benjamin has been part of Gaz Cobain of FSOL and The Amorphous Androgynous' project for a recording of 'We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal', to be released soon.
As a composer, Benjamin is interested in composing innovative works which are accessible to everybody, whatever their musical experience. His recent Suite for Solo Cello drew on inspiration from both Bach and Britten, yet was tailored to a 21st Century audience. His series of 'Overture's use the sights and sounds of an ensemble rehearsal and bring them together with humour to create an innovative and new type of music.
