About

Benjamin Costello

MA PGDip BMus FRSA

Eurotunnel en route to Germany, with fellow biker Tim Hendy.

Ben is a freelance musical director, adjudicator, singing coach and accompanist, working internationally. He is also Artistic Director of Thames Concerts, Founding Director of Kingston Chamber Singers, Chorus Master for the Leith Hill Musical Festival, and on the faculty at Laine Theatre Arts, with occasional visits to Trinity Laban and Mountview Academy.   Over a twenty-year freelance career he has been a musical director on numerous productions across the U.K. and remains a guest conductor and workshop leader with various choirs. 

Ben judges at festivals internationally as a generalist music adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, with recent and forthcoming visits to adjudicate or perform in Southern Africa, China, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Italy and Ireland. He has formed particularly strong ties with Zimbabwe and Botswana, making regular visits there since conducting the opening gala concert of the Harare International Festival of the Arts in 2010.

A specialist in musical theatre, Ben has worked for Arts Ed (London), Laine Theatre Arts, Guildford School of Acting, the London College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity Laban, Mountview Academy, Drama Studio London, and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Countless of his former singing students enjoy successful careers in the West End and beyond.

Born and based in London, Ben trained initially as a flautist, and subsequently majored in piano, singing and conducting. His early career included répétiteur work with the London Symphony Orchestra, together with various London theatre and opera groups and he remains much sought-after as an outstanding accompanist in musical theatre repertoire. He continues to collaborate with countless singers and instrumentalists in concerts and other performing environments. 

Ben is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, organising and chairing the Company’s annual musical direction scholarship.

Outside of music Ben's interests include travel (he is a keen motorcyclist) and wine (he recently completed his WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, passing with merit).