Ben Costello

 

Freelance musical director, artistic director, singing coach, accompanist, examiner  and adjudicator.

Ben Costello

BMus PGDip MA FRSA FISM

Ben is a freelance musician, working internationally, and Artistic Director of Thames Concerts.  It is hard to begin to describe his work portfolio, which embraces a variety of genres.  Born in London, Ben trained initially as a flautist, before majoring in piano, singing, and conducting. 

Ben Costello

Musical Theatre

A known specialist in musical theatre, Ben is much sought-after as a singing teacher and accompanist in this field.  A reflective product of this has been his continuing work in most of the major colleges.  These have included Arts Ed, GSA, Laines, Trinity Laban, Mountview, LAMDA, RAM, Drama Studio London, Italia Conti and the London School of Musical Theatre.   He was the first in-house MD at the London College of Music.  Countless of Ben’s former students enjoy successful careers in the West End and beyond.

Adjudication

Since 2009, Ben has been a busy professional generalist music adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals and is a former Music Chairman of the Adjudicators’ Council.  He adjudicates at festivals throughout the UK and overseas (including visits to Zimbabwe, Botswana, China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Gibraltar) and has given presentations at several Federation conferences.   

Examining

Ben is a music examiner for London College of Music Examinations (LCME) and is a consultant on their musical theatre syllabi.  His examining work takes him throughout the UK and overseas. 

Performing

Ben maintains a busy schedule as an accompanist, working with a wide variety of respected singers and instrumentalists in concerts, exams and other performing environments.  He is also a pianist for Cantabile (The London Quartet), and also deputises as an organist at several London churches.  

Workshops and Masterclasses

Ben regularly leads workshops and masterclasses on themes such as musical theatre, acting through song, opera choruses, and on singing technique, and is happy to tailor specific all-day sessions on request.  

Singing Teaching

A busy private singing tutor, Ben also teaches singing at Tiffin Girls' School and Kingston Grammar School.  For more information and rates, please visit his teaching page. 

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Memberships / affiliations

  • Worshipful Company of Musicians (Liveryman since 2014); Court Assistant (2022 onwards); Chairman of the Jazz Committee (2022 onwards); Chairman of annual Musical Direction Scholarship (2016-2024); Steward (2018 to 2021). 
  • Royal Society of Musicians (Life Member since 2008). Member of the Court of Assistants (2011 to 2018).
  • British Voice Association (Member)
  • Association of Teachers of Singing (Member)
  • British and International Federation of Festivals (Adjudicator Member since 2009, and Music Chairman of the Adjudicators' Council)
  • Royal Society of Arts (Fellow)
  • Performing Right Society (Member)
  • Independent Society of Musicians (Fellow)
  • Freeman of the City of London

Qualifications

  • MA (by research)
  • PGDip (conducting)
  • BMus (piano, singing)
Get in Touch
Thames Concerts

Thames Concerts

Thames Concerts is a charitable foundation which exists to promote and present an annual series of high quality concerts and masterclasses in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

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