Biography: Ben Clarke

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Born in Manchester in 1979, Ben studied Music at the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music where he learned for five years on both piano and trumpet. He then went on to complete the Joint Course Degree in Music at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music. During this time he was awarded the RNCM Keyboard Competence Prize and in addition became an Associate of the Royal College of Music in Piano Performance.

Having always enjoyed the diverse worlds of piano and trumpet, Ben has worked and performed regularly on both; as a piano soloist and accompanist and as a free-lance trumpet player. As an accompanist, he has worked with some of the finest instrumentalists in the world, notably the euphonium players Steven Mead, Robert Childs, David Childs and David Thornton. Ben has given recitals at the Wigmore Hall and Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, and has performed at Kendal’s Contemporary Music Festival, the Windsor Festival and the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference. He has also performed on various occasions with the Northern Tuba Quartet and the British Euphonium Quartet, and has accompanied musicians as far a field as Australia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Whilst the piano has always played a large role in Ben’s musical life, it was in fact the trumpet that first allowed him to display his musical ability. At the age of thirteen, he was playing principal trumpet in the Northern Junior Philharmonic Orchestra, where he was awarded the Sir Michael Tippet Award for Most Promising Young Musician. Since leaving College Ben has worked with the Liverpool Sinfonia, Derbyshire Sinfonia and the St Cecilia Orchestra and in 2003 he performed Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto in Todmorden City Hall.

Ben is also a member of the Amigos Trumpet Trio, a unique Brass Ensemble that was formed in 1998. The Amigos are in fact the only professional Trumpet Trio in the world and their engagements have included performances at London’s Purcell Room, the CBSO Centre and a Lunchtime Prom at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff. During 1998-99, they were sponsored by Ericsson to play as mascots for London Wasp’s RUFC. In addition, the Trio were invited to perform alongside Boston Brass at the 2002 International Trumpet Guild Conference, held in Manchester.

As well as pursuing a performing career, Ben is also a teacher and an arranger of music.