Cadenza Patron

At the end of the Weekend Workshop held in March 2003 at Carberry Tower, we invited Ben Parry to become our Patron. To our delight, he accepted with enthusiasm, and we look forward to a long and happy association with him.

Ben comes from a large musical family (Mendelssohn is a distant ancestor). He studied music at Cambridge University, where he sang with King's College Choir. For five years he was a member and Co-Musical Director of the international vocal group The Swingle Singers, during which time he visited more than twenty countries and performed with several of the world's leading musicians. Ben wrote many arrangements for the group which were regular programme items, including Bach's Liebster Jesu, Mozart's Magic Flute Overture, Debussy's Golliwog's Cake Walk and Lennon and McCartney's Yesterday.

Since 1992, Ben has put his hand to all manner of things musical, including singing, playing, conducting, acting, composing and recording both in classical and light music fields. As a singer, he has appeared with many professional groups, including the Taverner and Gabrieli Consorts, the Cambridge Singers and Electric Phoenix, and has sung on numerous TV and radio commercials and film soundtracks, as well as on the stage in London's West End.

Ben came to Scotland in 1995 with his family, where he established himself as a conductor and musical director. He was co-founder and Musical Director of the Dunedin Consort, and Chorus Master of the SCO Chorus. As a conductor, he has worked with the Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Meadows Chamber Orchestra, Haddo House Opera and paragon Ensemble Scotland. He has also worked extensively with young singers, including the RSAMD in Glasgow, Eton Choral Courses, Young Choirs.net and the Aberdeen Youth Choir.

Sadly for those of us in Scotland, Ben has now moved to London, where he is now Director of Music at St. Paul's School as well as Associate Director of the professional session choir, London Voices. He returns regularly to Scotland on business and for holidays; his family still has a cottage in the Borders, and his wife often plays with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Visit Ben's web site for more information.