Introducing Benjamin Draper

Rehearsal Orchestra’s annual workshop for young conductors returns on Sunday 11 October at the Royal College of Music in London.

Now in its fourth year, the workshop expands the support we provide for future professionals in developing their skills. We’ll be joined by four conductors from the Royal College of Music’s postgraduate course in orchestral conducting, under the supervision of our Artistic Director Levon Parikian, to work on Prokofiev’s iconic Symphony No. 5.

Benjamin Draper enjoys a varied career as a conductor and cellist. He is currently Co-Artistic Director and Conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra, and Co-Founder of Hive Sinfonia. Ben has conducted the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales for side-by-side workshops and has worked with numerous youth and amateur ensembles.

Having gained a Master’s degree with Distinction, as a cellist, from the Royal Northern College of Music, Ben is now studying conducting at the Royal College of Music in London, under the mentorship of Toby Purser, Peter Stark, Howard Williams, and visiting professors Vassily Petrenko and Martyn Brabbins. As an assistant conductor Ben has taken placements with the BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras, working closely with conductors including Domingo Hindoyan, Ben Gernon, Mark Wigglesworth, Anja Bihlmaier and John Storgårds. This is Ben’s second workshop with the Rehearsal Orchestra.

Ben works extensively in outreach and with youth orchestras, recently with Croydon Youth Orchestra, Nottingham Youth Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the Chetham’s School of Music Orchestras. He has additionally worked with amateur orchestras and choirs across the country.

We look forward to working with you again, Ben!

The workshop includes an Open Rehearsal (at 17.45) to which observers are welcome. Please let us know in advance if you would like to attend.