Ben Costello

Artistic Direction

Artistic Director and Company Secretary of Thames Concerts.   Artistic Director of the City Music Society.   Former Artistic Director of the Kingston Festival of the Voice.  

Examining

Examiner, consultant and recording artist for London College of Music Examinations.   

Adjudication

Judging at festivals nationally and internationally and delivering masterclasses as a generalist music adjudicator member of 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 several Federation conferences.

Music Director (Musical Theatre)

Visiting musical director, singing teacher and lecturer in many of the major colleges and universities. London School of Musical Theatre (2022–Present); Italia Conti (2023–Present); Drama Studio London (2017–Present); Mountview Academy (2005–Present).  Previously: Universities of Portsmouth; Surrey, London (Birkbeck) and Kingston; Laine Theatre Arts; Trinity Laban; Guildford School of Acting; Arts Ed; London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art; Royal Academy of Music.    

Music Director (Choral)

A strong track record as a choral director:
• Kingston Chamber Singers (2001–Present)
• Leith Hill Music Festival (2013-24)
• Thames Philharmonic Choir (2016-19)
• Southampton Choral Society (2018-19)
• Kingston University Vox Ensemble (2005-07)
• London College of Music - Resident College MD and Director of the Chamber Choir (2000-08)
• Worthing Choral Society (1997-2003)

Guest conductor for groups including: Voices of Hangzhou Youth Choir (China), Fareham Philharmonic Choir, Da Capo Dansweiler (Germany), Milton Keynes Chorale, St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Chorus, Finchley Children’s Music Group, English Arts Chorale, Kingston University Chamber Choir, Impromptu, Trinity Laban Show Choir, Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society, Bramley and Blackheath Choral Society, Capel Choral Society, Chichester Festival Theatre, Royal Automobile Club Choir.

Accompanist / Répétiteur

Piano accompanist in numerous concerts since 1998, collaborating with singers including Michael Chance CBE, James Bowman CBE, Roderick Williams OBE, Hugh Cutting, Robin Blaze, Paul Esswood, Alison Pearce, Joanne Lunn, Peter Savidge, Mark Dobell and Richard Suart. Occasional pianist for Cantabile (The London Quartet). 

Concerts, masterclasses and workshops in the UK, France, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Crete, Italy, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Botswana and China. Occasional répétiteur for London Symphony Orchestra, Opera Brava, First Act Opera, and London Opera Players from 2000 to 2005. Harpsichordist with own two-manual instrument. Principal deputy organist at the Actors’ Church, Covent Garden since 2008.
 

Singing Teaching

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

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)
• 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)