Ben Kingston
Biography
Ben is a former bassoonist of both the Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band and County Youth Orchestra. He has played at prestigious venues across the UK including De Montfort Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham and the Royal Albert Hall, as well as on tours to Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Belgium.
Currently, Ben works as an Assistant Head of Mathematics at a secondary school in Coventry. However, music has always been a large part of his life and during his studies at the University of Leicester, he took up the position as Conductor of the University Concert Band – a role which he held for nearly five years until December 2021 – and co-conductor of the university’s orchestra. He saw both groups go from strength to strength, which culminated in Ben directing a performance of extracts from Holst’s ‘The Planets’ alongside members of the Philharmonia Orchestra at De Montfort Hall. Recently, Ben has deputised for various ensembles throughout the Midlands.
Previously, Ben has been fortunate enough to receive tuition with Toby Purser, Denise Ham and Robin O’Neill – three of the UK’s leading conducting tutors. He is delighted that Rococo have temporarily relinquished his duties as second bassoonist in order to conduct them for a third term; he wishes to thank both the players and the committee for their continuous hard work and endeavour and he hopes you enjoy the performance!
Ben Kingston
Conductor
Next Concert
7:30 pm, Saturday, 16 November 2024, Rugby High School
Recent Blogs
How America Shaped Dvorak's MusicAntonÃn Dvořák spent a significant period in the United States from 1892 to 1895. This sojourn profoundly influenced his musical output, particularly his Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" and the "American" String Quartet. During his time in America, Dvořák immersed himself in the country's rich musical traditions, including African American spirituals and Native American melodies, which he incorporated into his compositions. This fusion of Old World classical techniques with New World inspirations resulted in some of his most celebrated works, leaving an indelible mark on both American and European musical landscapes.
History
Dvorak's Folk Music IntegrationAntonÃn Dvořák, the renowned 19th-century Czech composer, masterfully wove the vibrant tapestry of Bohemian and Moravian folk music into his classical compositions. This artistic fusion not only enriched his works but also played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Czech cultural identity during a time of political suppression. By elevating folk melodies and rhythms to the grand stages of European concert halls, Dvořák showcased the beauty of Czech musical heritage, instilling a sense of national pride and contributing to the broader Romantic movement's emphasis on folk culture.
Composer
Beethoven's Hearing LossLudwig van Beethoven's gradual descent into deafness is one of the most poignant narratives in musical history. This article explores how the maestro's progressive hearing loss influenced his compositions and working methods, reshaping not only his own creative process but the very landscape of Western classical music. From his early struggles with tinnitus to his eventual complete deafness, Beethoven's journey through silence paradoxically gave birth to some of the most profound and revolutionary works in the classical canon.
Information
© 2021 Rugby Rococo Players. All rights reserved.