Musarc performing ‘Interplay II’ at St. Bartholomew the Great, Friday 10th December, 2010
Wednesday December 08th 2010, 11:29 am
Filed under: Composition, Electronics, Improvisation, Piano/Keys

I’m delighted that Musarc, under the expert direction of Cathy Heller Jones, are performing ‘Interplay II’ again this Friday in London.  I’ll be playing piano for my piece and for the carols and various other Christmas treats.  It promises to be a fantastic concert in an amazing space!



Hertfordshire Youth Choir - St. Albans, 10th November 2010
Sunday November 07th 2010, 3:59 pm
Filed under: Composition, Electronics, Gigs, Improvisation, Piano/Keys

Hertfordshire Youth Choir will be singing ‘Interplay II’ for choir, piano and electronics in St. Saviours Church in St. Albans on Wednesday.  We had a rehearsal last night and it sounded great.  It promises to be a great concert with an interesting and varied programme and it kicks off at 7.30.



New Postdoctoral position at the University of Southampton
Saturday October 16th 2010, 10:37 am
Filed under: Composition, Electronics, Music and Cochlear Implants, News, Piano/Keys

I recently started work as the AHRC Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Composition for Cochlear Implant Users at the University of Southampton.  This exciting job involves helping devise and run workshops, developing a music training program and writing new pieces for CI users.  I’m working in the Music Department, the Institute for Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) and the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre (SOECIC) at the University of Southampton.  I’ve been finding my feet for the past few weeks and am really enjoying the work.  You can read some info about the project at the Southampton website.  I’ll keep updating about any new pieces and activities as they come up!



ON AIR: Musarc workshop and performance + recording
Friday July 02nd 2010, 12:21 pm
Filed under: Composition, Electronics, Piano/Keys, Recordings

I had a brilliant day yesterday working with the Musarc choir at St. Stephen Walbrook Church.  The choir commissioned three composers, Neil Luck, Tom Chant and myself to work with the choir on new pieces.  I wrote a new piece ‘Interplay II’ for choir, piano and live electronics.  The choir were a joy to work with and their director Cathy Heller Jones did an amazing job conducting my piece.  A recording is already available thanks to Joseph Kohlmaier and while I think the electronics could perhaps be louder and further developed I think the piece as a whole is rather effective!



ON AIR: Workshop and Performance at St. Stephen Walbrook, 4pm, 1st July 2010
Wednesday June 16th 2010, 6:59 pm
Filed under: Composition, Electronics, Improvisation, Piano/Keys

I am working on a new piece for choir, piano and live electronics which the Musarc choir will workshop and perform at St. Stephen Walbrook on 1st July.  I’m really excited to be working with Musarc and in such a fantastic space!  Please come either to be involved in the workshop or to the concert at 8.30pm.



Recording of ‘The Dino Rescue Team’
Tuesday June 15th 2010, 5:09 pm
Filed under: Composition, Piano/Keys, Recordings

This is a recording of ‘The Dino Rescue Team’ with Dafydd Williams directing!  Enjoy!

<a href="http://benoliver.bandcamp.com/track/the-dino-rescue-team">The Dino Rescue Team by Ben Oliver</a>



The Dino Rescue Team - Spitalfields Festival 12th June 2010
Monday June 07th 2010, 7:04 pm
Filed under: Composition, Piano/Keys

My new piece ‘The Dino Rescue Team’ will be performed by the Hackney CYM Red and Yellow Choirs, Oliver Senton (narrator), Mobius String Quartet, Caz Wolfson (percussion) and me (piano) in Shoreditch Church at 2pm this Saturday.  The piece was written as part of HMDT’s PRS Foundation Young Composers’ Scheme.  Tickets are free and it should be great!



An Invite from the Queen
Monday December 21st 2009, 10:37 am
Filed under: Flute, Improvisation, Piano/Keys

A new music story book/CD, ‘An Invite from the Queen‘ has been released by Hackney Music Development Trust (HMDT).  I was involved in the devising process in my role as one of HMDT’s PRSF Trainee Composers and also played flute, hammond organ and even sang on the CD!  The narration was done by Griff Rhys Jones, the composition by Matthew King and for anyone with little ones or an inner child it is an absolute must!



Robin Grey Album, ‘Strangers with Shoes’
Saturday December 19th 2009, 8:20 am
Filed under: Piano/Keys

My dear friend and co-swerverite Robin Grey has released his second album, ‘Strangers with Shoes‘, on which I appear on several tracks.  Definitely worth downloading this one - for anyone interested I’m particularly pleased with my Rhodes playing on ‘Ninety Days’!!

Parental advisory on the lyrics to this one…

Congratulations to Robin for another great album release.  This is my favourite track from the album (I’m not on it!), ‘Shakes and Shudders’…



Hidden Lives and Unvisited Tombs - 3.00pm, 5th December
Saturday November 28th 2009, 4:59 pm
Filed under: Composition, Electronics, Flute, Improvisation, Piano/Keys

I’ve composed some recorded music and will be improvising live for ‘Hidden lives and Unvisited Tombs‘ at St Pancras Church crypt next Saturday 5th December.  Our performance, which is directed by Rachel Warr, is part of an exhibition and performances put on by Scary Little Girls and will kick off at 3.30.