Benedict Todd was born in Huddersfield, but grew up in and around East Anglia. The majority of his early musical education took place in the city of Ely, where he sang as a cathedral chorister and was also the holder of a major music scholarship at the King’s School. In 2007 Benedict moved to the south-west to study at the University of Bristol. He graduated with a first class BA in Music in 2010 and subsequently spent a further year studying towards an MA in Composition, which he was awarded (with Distinction) in 2011. The past four years have been occupied by doctoral composition studies and, having submitted the written work in September this year, he is looking forward to the completion of the examination process in early 2017.
As an organist, Benedict has played in churches and cathedrals across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Whilst studying in Bristol he spent four years as Organ Scholar at St Paul’s, Clifton where he also directed the University of Bristol Church Choir. From 2011 to 2012 he held the post of Organ Scholar at Blackburn Cathedral, regularly playing for cathedral services and accompanying many of the cathedral’s various choirs. During his doctoral studies Benedict spent two and a half happy years as the Assistant Director of Music at St James-the-Great, Dursley, where he accompanied and helped to direct the thriving parish choir. His recent appointment as Organist at Great St Mary’s, Cambridge has brought him back to the eastern counties, and he is looking forward to working with the University Church’s choirs as part of the active music department. Benedict is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and is in growing demand as a recitalist and accompanist.
