Haddenham Scoops a Winner!

Aperitif Recitals Attracts a Gifted Musician

On Saturday 22nd June twenty three year old Benjamin Sheen won $40,000 !! He was placed first in the International Organ Competition at Longwood Gardens Philadelphia. He was competing against outstanding organists, all under the age of thirty, from all over the world and on Tuesday 16th July, at 7pm, Ben will play at St Mary's Church Haddenham as part of the Aperitif Recitals programme!

Ben was a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral, where he took up the organ aged 10. In 2003, Ben became the youngest person ever to give a recital in the cathedral at the age of just 13. He then won a music scholarship to Eton College. At the age of 14 he gained the highest mark in the UK at grade 8 piano and in the summer of 2008 he gave a performance of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto. Also whilst at school he gave several organ recitals across the UK including Liverpool Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and York Minster as well as appearing a number of times in the Windsor Festival as a soloist. He toured the USA with the Eton College Choir and also gave a number of solo concerts in New York, Denver, Washington and Princeton University.

After Eton Ben became organ scholar at Christ Church Cathedral Oxford. He combined his position as organ scholar with a busy solo career which led him to numerous performances in cathedrals and concert halls across the UK, as well as further afield to Australia and Germany He is now assistant organist at St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York. You can catch a video introducing Ben by clicking here.

Aperitif Recitals:
Admittance to this forty minute recital is free. Guests are welcomed with a glass of wine and canapés which they enjoy during the performance. A donation towards expenses is gratefully received when leaving. Those wishing to attend are asked to email Bruce Clarke (bruce.clarke@hotmail.co.uk) or telephone him 299030 or Jenny Hardy 291173.