Benjamin Costello

Ben is a London-based musician working throughout the U.K. and overseas as a musical director, choral director, singing coach, accompanist and arranger. A highly versatile performer, he works in very diverse genres ranging from the Renaissance period to contemporary music, but principally musical theatre, and he has been involved with numerous productions across the U.K.

Ben has worked extensively throughout the Further and Higher Education sectors and all of the major London performing arts colleges as a musical director and vocal coach. He also judges at competitive festivals throughout the U.K. as an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals. In addition to working with many choral groups, he is Music Director and Conductor of Kingston Chamber Singers. In 2010 he conducted the opening gala concert of the Harare International Festival of the Arts, Zimbabwe, before a 5000-strong audience.

Constantly in demand as an accompanist, he regularly collaborates with a wide variety of singers and instrumentalists – including since 1998 the distinguished international soprano soloist Alison Pearce – giving recitals and masterclasses nationally and most recently in France, Poland, Crete and Italy.

In 2006 he was elected Chairman of Kingston Arts Council, the umbrella group for artistic organisations and individuals within the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, and is currently Artistic Director of the biennial Kingston Festival of the Voice.

Born in London in 1976, Ben read Music at Kingston University (B.Mus., M.A.), winning the conducting prize, and the London College of Music (P.G.Dip.); joining the staff there as resident musical director for six years. He is currently undertaking doctoral research in Music at the University of Surrey.

May 2010

Ben can be contacted on +44 (0)7889 659324.