Originally from Oxfordshire, Benedict Collins Rice held two conducting scholarships at Cambridge University before continuing his studies with the heads of conducting at the Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Vienna University of Music and Birmingham University where, studying under Simon Halsey, he gained the course’s highest-ever conducting mark in his MA in Choral Conducting.

Benedict is founder and artistic director of The Facade Ensemble, a dynamic group of instrumentalists and singers which specialises in 20th-century chamber music. They are currently Ensemble in Residence at the Courtauld Institute.

Benedict has followed in the footsteps of Holst and Tippett in holding the post of Lecturer and Choir Tutor at Morley College and, in addition to his work with the Bury Bach Choir, maintains a busy portfolio as Musical Director of the Bath Bach Choir and the Mid Norfolk Singers, and Conductor of the Ipswich Chamber Choir, the West Kent County Youth Orchestra and Rose Opera. His many choirs attest to his ‘knowledge, style, inspiration, enthusiasm and love of music’, as well as his sense of fun.

Often in demand as a guest conductor, he has worked with the Berlin Sinfonietta, assisted with the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted the Southbank Sinfonia, British Youth Opera, the St Albans Symphony Orchestra and Farnborough Symphony Orchestra.

Benedict has performed through Europe and the United States (from The Royal Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall), recorded for several labels, worked for BBC and NBC Television and the BFI, and broadcast live on Radio 3.