Ben de Souza, accordion

Ben de Souza is one of a growing number of British classical accordionists at the forefront of promoting the instrument in this country. His playing shows “great technical assurance and control, beautifully understated expression, and real soul.”

Ben is a regular recitalist and chamber musician and has performed extensively throughout England. He has collaborated with West Forest Chamber Ensemble, The Assembly Project and Bloomsbury Festival, while in 2018 he made his orchestral debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra, under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy. Ben has also workshopped new music for the accordion with composition students at the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity Laban and the University of Cambridge. The accordion takes Ben across the UK and has allowed him to perform in venues such as St David’s Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Stoller Hall, Hampton Court Palace and South Hill Park Arts Centre.

Having previously studied with Romano Viazzani, Ben completed his undergraduate studies with Owen Murray at the Royal Academy of Music. He has also received tuition from many of the world’s leading accordionists including Friedrich Lips, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, Bjarke Mogensen, Mie Miki, Iñaki Alberdi and Matti Rantanen among others.

Ben is passionate about educating the next generation of British accordionists and has a busy private teaching practice encompassing students of all ages and abilities. He also holds the position of Accordion Teacher at Salisbury Cathedral School and The Purcell School.

Ben has trained as an accordion repairer and tuner with Beltrami Accordions, Italy, and works part-time as an accordion repairer for ZZ Music.

Ben also holds a Masters in Choral Studies from the University of Cambridge, where he studied conducting with Stephen Layton and Graham Ross. In addition to his work as an accordionist, Ben is a freelance choral conductor, working with a range of choirs. He is the founding conductor of Clare Hall Choir, Musical Director of Farnham & Bourne Choral Society, Newbury Chamber Choir and Reading Lunchtime Choir, and also works with choirs at the John Lewis Partnership, Finchley Children’s Music Group and Taplow Choirs.

www.bendesouzamusic.com