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The English choral conductor, bass singer and educator, Benjamin Gaughran, began his musical studies as a pianist, spending a number of years as an accompanist for a variety of choirs and musical theatre companies as well as giving solo performances. During this time, he also studied voice with British opera singer Margaret Preece and former BBC Singers member, Graham Titus. His performances as a singer have comprised both classical and musical theatre contexts, including the role of Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Artful Dodger in Oliver! He has also enjoyed singing with many choirs including The City of Birmingham Choir and The Royal Holloway Chorus.
Benjamin Gaughran obtained his Bachelor of Music degree from Royal Holloway, University of London (2010-2013), where he officially began his studies as a choral conductor. Mentored by Rupert Gough, he was one of the first conductors of the Royal Holloway Founder’s Choir and also conducted The Royal Holloway Early Music Ensemble and Singers. He completed his Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Disctinction at the Canterbury Christ Church University (September 2013-July 2014); and obtained his Master of Arts in Education (MA) with a focus in Educational Management and Leadership from the University of Nottingham (2015-2016). In addition to these conducting positions, he has conducted a variety of community choirs including a ladies’ choir, male voice choir and other ensembles across the UK. Furthermore, he has been musical director for musical theatre companies with credits including: Fiddler on the Roof, Andy Capp, Oklahoma! and The Pirates of Penzance.
Benjamin Gaughran has held a number of musical posts within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been Church organist/pianist in congregations across the country for nearly 20 years. He has also been the Director of Music in congregations in Birmingham, Coventry, Gillingham and Canterbury. Furthermore, he has been the music director for many national productions and conventions. Alongside these posts, he was the area music advisor for the Coventry and Canterbury areas of the Church where he trained music leaders and other music staff in the different congregations. He was Music Director of Mosaic Chamber Choir, is a lively group of singers based in Woking, singing music from Renaissance to the present day, both secular and sacred (August 2012-July 2020). Since January 2014, he has been Financial Director of Little Voices West Kent in Medway, West Kent, one of the UK's most outstanding performing arts training organisation, offering drama and singing lessons of distinction to children aged 4-18.
Benjamin Gaughran was Head of Music at St Thomas More Catholic School, London where he conducted The St Thomas More Choir (August 2014-July 2020). He has studied choral conducting with Dr. Amy Bebbington, Sarah Tenant-Flowers and Manvinder Rattan. In 2019, he was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM) in Choral Conducting. Since August 2020, he studies at University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He is currently living and working in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA as choral conductor.
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