Biography
Benedict Kearns is a British conductor working extensively in Europe and the United Kingdom, including in recent seasons at La Monnaie, Belgium, Glyndebourne Festival, UK and Theater Bonn, Germany.
Beginning in the 2022/23 season, Benedict has been appointed the Chorus Master of Opéra National de Lyon and for a number of shows at the Aix-en-Provence Festival. In his new role, Benedict works in close collaboration with the Musical Director of the theatre, Daniele Rustioni, preparing the renowned Chorus of the Opera in a wide range of repertoire. Benedict has collaborated with Maestro Rustioni on Wagner’s Tannhäuser, Verdi’s Rigoletto & Massenet’s Hérodiade to critical acclaim from the international press; Hérodiade notably performed both in Lyon’s Auditorium and Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris with a broadcast on France Musique. Opéra National de Lyon has a wonderful programme of concerts, tours and broadcasts in all of which Benedict is closely involved artistically and strategically.
Prior to moving to France, Benedict spent two seasons at Theater Bonn, Germany as a full-time member of their music staff. Here he had the opportunity to be immersed in the German operatic repertoire tradition; working as conductor, pianist and coach on many different works.
Benedict began his musical formation at Westminster Abbey as a treble where he was Head Chorister. While at school in Mill Hill, North London, Benedict was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain as a keyboardist, as well as a singer in the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. He studied music as an undergraduate at King’s College, Cambridge and was also a Baritone Choral Scholar under Sir Stephen Cleobury in the choir, taught by Joy Mammen. He was invited to be the Junior Fellow Repetiteur at the Royal Northern College of Music and was a Young Artist 2018/19 at the National Opera Studio in London. In various guises of conductor, pianist and singer, Benedict has toured internationally on many occasions to the USA, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and throughout Europe.
