Benedict Collins Rice
musical director

Originally from Oxfordshire, Benedict honed his conducting skills in Cambridge, London, Manchester and finally in Birmingham where he gained the course’s highest-ever conducting mark.

Benedict follows in the footsteps of Holst and Tippett in holding the post of Lecturer & Choir Tutor at Morley College, London. He brings his own brand of inspiration, fun and enthusiasm to all the choirs he conducts: Ipswich Chamber Choir, Bath Bach Choir, Bury Bach Choir and Mid Norfolk Singers.

He has collaborated with the Berlin Sinfonietta, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Southbank Sinfonia as well as British Youth Opera. He is in demand as a guest conductor for choirs, orchestras, and opera companies around the UK as well as performing throughout Europe and the USA. Listen out for his several recordings as well as broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and 4.

Keen to champion the ensemble chamber music of 20th-century modernism, Benedict founded The Facade Ensemble whilst he was at Cambridge University. This has developed into a dynamic group of young instrumentalists and singers among whom are BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists, Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine award winners. Its members often perform with leading ensembles such as The Sixteen, Voces8, and Tenebrae as well as the LSO and RPO. They are currently Ensemble in Residence at The Courtauld Institute and enjoy a reputation for ‘razor-sharp’ (The Arts Desk), ‘first-rate’ (MusicOMH), and ‘stunning’ (Robert Hugill) performances. The ensemble, under Benedict’s leadership, carefully curates programmes which are both imaginative and accessible, proving time and again that engaging with styles of music that are sometimes sadly dismissed as 'difficult' can in fact be a richly rewarding experience.

When not engaged in musical pursuits, Benedict can be found walking the fens with his wife, cheering on Ipswich Town FC or battling to keep his garden under control.