Congratulations to Kent Music alumnus, Ben Oliver!
Kent Music alumnus Ben Oliver, at the age of only 35, has just been appointed as Associate Professor in Composition at the University of Southampton, where he has worked as a researcher and lecturer since 2010. Ben’s formative musical years were greatly informed by his experiences with Kent Music. He attended Medway Towns Music Centre for ten years, Kent Centre for Young Instrumentalists for two but most importantly made his way through the County Ensembles including Kent Youth Symphonic Band, Kent Youth Wind Orchestra, Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra, Kent Music Summer School and Kent County Youth Orchestra. He also had great experiences working with Trevor Brearley at Rochester Mathematical School.
Ben went onto pursue studies at the University of Leeds and then completed his PhD at the University of Sussex before pursuing his career at Southampton. His music has been performed by ensembles including London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Paramirabo (Canada) and broadcast on Radio 3. He is also conductor of the Workers Union Ensemble.
In 2013 Ben was commissioned by Kent Music to compose ‘Loop Concerto’ for Kent County Youth Orchestra and another former member Ivo Neame (jazz piano). In February 2017. a large-scale rewrite of this piece was performed by Ivo, Jon Scott (drums) and Jasper Hoiby (double bass) with an ensemble of student performers at Turner Sims in Southampton.
