Ben Costello

 

Artistic Director, Musical Director, Adjudicator and Examiner

Ben Costello

A creative, motivated, and committed practitioner with 30 years’ experience in leadership, artistic direction, performance and administration, working with people of all ages from a variety of backgrounds and demographics.  An inspiring director, facilitator and collaborator, embracing and widening participation, championing artistic excellence and diversity, and effecting positive change.  Ben is presently Artistic Director and Company Secretary of Thames Concerts, and Artistic Director of the City Music Society.

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

Judging at festivals nationally and internationally and delivering masterclasses as a busy professional generalist music adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals​​​. Past Chairman of the Federation Adjudicators’ Council; adjudicator mentor; member of assessment panel for potential new adjudicators; presenter at Federation conferences in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024.

Examining

Examining nationally and internationally for London College of Music Examinations (LCME); musical theatre consultant and  professional recording artist for LCME; contribution of examining articles for the Music Teachers Association Ensemble magazine, and Music Teacher magazine.

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)
  • 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 and company 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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