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Biography

Originally from Oxfordshire, Benedict held two conducting scholarships at Cambridge University before continuing his studies with the  heads of conducting at the Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Vienna University of Music and Birmingham University where, studying under Simon Halsey, he gained the course’s highest-ever conducting mark.

Benedict is founder and artistic director of The Facade Ensemble, a dynamic group of instrumentalists and singers which specialises in 20th-century chamber music. They are currently Ensemble in Residence at The Courtauld Institute.

He follows in the footsteps of Holst and Tippett in holding the post of Lecturer & Choir Tutor at Morley College, conducts the West Kent County Youth Orchestra, and is musical director of Ipswich Chamber Choir, Bath Bach Choir, Bury Bach Choir, and Mid Norfolk Singers. His current choirs attest to his ‘knowledge, style, inspiration, enthusiasm and love of music’, as well as his sense of fun. Often in demand as a guest conductor, he has worked with the Berlin Sinfonietta, assisted with the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted the Southbank Sinfonia and British Youth Opera. This coming season he makes his debut with the St Alban's Symphony Orchestra and Farnborough Symphony Orchestra.

Benedict also works with a number of opera companies, including Rose Opera and All Aboard Opera, in projects ranging from large-scale Wagner productions to a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure version of Dido.

Benedict has performed through Europe and the US (from The Royal Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall), recorded for several labels, for BBC and NBC Television and the BFI, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 & 4.