Ben Sawyer

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT BEN SAWYER

In January 2023, I started on a new professional path as the Head of Education for Sprint Education, following an approach from their CEO, Guy Lewis. This is a new role and one that I am really enjoying. I am a conductor, countertenor and educator based in Gloucestershire. I am much in demand for my affable, engaging and meticulous approach, and for my ability to get the best out of singers. As a conductor, I have a busy schedule conducting a number of choirs on a regular basis. I have been director of award-winning chamber choir, The Oriel Singers since February 2015, having led Tyndale Choral Society since 2013, and until recently, Hanley Voices. In January 2019 I founded Gloucestershire Boys’ Choir, working to bring confidence to boys through a love of singing. I love ambitious projects, and in October 2022 I masterminded and conducted a gala concert celebrating Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 150th Birthday in Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham, featuring James Gilchrist and The Carducci Quartet, with the newly formed professional consort, Cheltenham Chamber Choir. In June 2018, I directed a major collaborative performance of Jonathan Dove’s ‘For an Unknown Soldier’ in Tewkesbury Abbey. I was Assistant Conductor for Cheltenham Festival’s production of Benjamin Britten’s community opera, ‘Noye’s Fludde’ in July 2013, and in July 2019, I conducted ‘The Burning Boy’, a community opera by Stephen McNeff as part of the Three Choirs Festival. I lead popular ‘Come and Sing’ days, workshops and masterclasses, including for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, and am complimented for my good-humoured, informative and engaging sessions. In 2017, I was a judge on the Sky One talent show, ‘Sing: Ultimate A Cappella’. Aside from conducting, I sing countertenor. I am a member of the international award winning male voice a cappella group, The Songmen and a lay clerk in Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum. Every summer, I enjoy singing in the Edington Festival of Music in the Liturgy. As an educator, I was until recently vocal tutor to the choristers of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum at Dean Close Preparatory School, including Cassian Pichler-Roca, BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2019. I taught singing at Dean Close School, Cheltenham for over 10 years, and directed a cappella ensemble \'Close Harmony\' in my time at Dean Close School. I am grateful to Cheltenham Arts Council for awarding me the ‘Joyner Cup’ in February 2019 for my contribution to the cultural life of Cheltenham.