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The English choral conductor, Ben England BEM, is a graduate of the University of Bristol, where he specialised in conducting,
Ben England is an internationally renowned conductor, educator, and innovator, known for his pioneering work in digital music-making. As the principal of Earth Choir Academy, a ground-breaking non-profit organisation, he is dedicated to bringing the joy of choral singing to people across the globe. Through innovative online platforms, his work transcends borders, creating opportunities for thousands to engage with music, regardless of location.
In 2020, Ben England founded Homechoir, a free, online choir offering a unique blend of traditional choral music, folk songs, gospel, and light-hearted repertoire. The project began as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has since evolved into a thriving online community with singers from all over the world. Through Homechoir, Ben continues to broadcast engaging and accessible musical content several times a week to thousands of people globally.
Ben England is the Musical Director and co-founder of the Choir of the Earth (formerly the Self-Isolation Choir), which quickly became one of the largest choirs globally during the pandemic, with over 12,000 participants. Their Messiah at Homeproject gained international recognition, featuring collaborations with world-class musicians and media coverage across outlets such as the BBC, NHK Japan, and CBS. Since its inception, Choir of the Earth has recorded dozens of great works including W.A. Mozart's Requiem, Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah, L.v. Beethoven's Symphone No. 9, Gustav Mahler's Synphonies Nos. 2 & 8, John Rutter’s Requiem, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and many more. In his role with Choir of the Earth he has worked with such great musicians and leading figures as Sir John Rutter, Carolyn Sampson OBE, Roderick Williams OBE, Laurence Cummings OBE, Ralph Allwood MBE, John Suchet OBE, Eric Whitacre, Patrick Hawes, Jia-Xin Lloyd-Webber amongst many others.
Ben England is much in demand to lead rehearsals and choral workshops globally. In 2022 he worked with the Bergen Philharmonic Chorus under Sir Mark Elder to prepare them for the Norwegian premiere of Delius’ A Mass of Life. He has recently led exciting choral experiences in Atlanta at the Cathedral of St Philip, in Helsinki with members of the Tapiola Chamber Choir and around the UK including Salisbury, Bath and London.
Ben England has led international tours of the great choral works, conducting in such amazing venues as St Peter’s Hallé Manchester, the Royal Northern College of Music, St Cuthbert’s Edinburgh, St Peter Mancroft Norwich and dozens of other first-rate spaces. In 2023 he led a performance of George Frideric Handel's Messiah in Dublin on the anniversary of its first performance, and in 2024 he conducted W.A. Mozart's Requiem in Salzburg. In 2025, he will be leading a trip to Eisenstadt to conduct Haydn’s Nelson Mass in the Esterhazy Palace where Haydn lived and worked for decades.
In 2023, Ben England founded Gamechoir, an innovative choir celebrating music from video games. Gamechoir recorded iconic pieces from Skyrim, Minecraft, and the world’s largest Halo chant, with over 5,000 voices participating. This unique project is part of Ben’s broader mission to make music accessible and fun for all, uniting diverse communities through shared musical experiences. He is also the Musical Director of the North Somerset Philharmonia, leading performances that range from classical masterworks to engaging community-focused events. Recent sold-out performances include G. Mahler's Symphony No. 4, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations and The Lark Ascending.
In addition to his work with choirs and orchestras, Ben England's projects have raised tens of thousands for charity. Beneficiaries include MacMillan Cancer Support (in collaboration with Jamie Mackenzie-Hall), the Alzheimer’s Society, Marmalade (a charity addressing loneliness), Shelter, Talk Club, and many more.
Ben England's career has spanned over 30 years, working with numerous choirs and orchestras across the UK. His contributions to music education have earned him accolades including the British Empire Medal for services to choral music and the community in 2020, the University of Bristol’s Alumni Award for Community Engagement and Impact, the Finnish Kanteleliitto Kantele of the year award in 2022, and nominations for the Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award and the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year award twice. His passion lies in empowering people through music, and his innovative approach to music technology continues to inspire musicians and audiences alike. |
