BENEDICT COLLINS RICE

BENEDICT COLLINS RICE CONDUCTOR AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR

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 and Vienna University of Music. He studied for a Master’s degree at Birmingham University where, under the tutelage of Simon Halsey, he gained the course’s highest-ever conducting mark.

He is founder and artistic director of The Facade Ensemble, which specialises in 20th-century chamber music. They are currently Ensemble-in-Residence at The Courtauld Institute, and enjoying a reputation for ‘razor-sharp’ (The Arts Desk), ‘first-rate’ (MusicOMH), and ‘stunning’ (Robert Hugill) performances.

Benedict follows in the footsteps of Holst and Tippett in holding the post of Lecturer & Choir Tutor at Morley College. In addition to Eye Bach Choir he 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.

He has worked with the Berlin Sinfonietta, assisted with the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted the Southbank Sinfonia and British Youth Opera. He is in demand as a guest conductor for choirs, orchestras, and opera companies around the UK.

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.

​As well as performing, Benedict has composed and arranged over a hundred pieces of music for choirs and instrumental ensembles. His most recent sound installation celebrating Calvino’s centenary year had a world tour including residencies in Liverpool, California, the Bermondsey Project Space (London), and the Arte Borgo Gallery (Rome).