Ben Reason - Baritone

Benjamin Reason is a New Zealand-born Baritone, currently studying towards his BMus (Hons) at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Robert Dean.

My name is Ben Reason and I am a young New Zealand Baritone.

In November of 2016, I successfully auditioned at a number of musical institutions in the United Kingdom, including London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I was offered a place at the conservatoire the very next day, and a scholarship shortly thereafter.

I had been living and working in the UK since June of last year, and was studying with renowned vocal coach Paul Farrington, and Royal Welsh College-based teacher Tim Richards.

Born and bred in Wellington, I attended Onslow College from 2010 to 2014. There I became a passionate member of the school's zany and collaborative Arts community, performing in several groups including playing Double Bass in the Jazz Band and Orchestra, and singing with the school Chamber Choir.

During my time at Onslow, I also took part in many of their eclectic stage musicals and plays after I first auditioned for the beggar chorus in their production of Les Misérables in 2010. These stage performances ultimately culminated in 2013, when I performed the title role in "Sweeney Todd; the Demon Barber of Fleet Street". Storming the stage with as much bravado and aguish my 16 year-old self could muster, I relished in opportunity to totally immerse myself in what was both a creatively, and vocally taxing performance.

I have also been a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir from 2013-2014 when they travelled to Malaysia and Singapore on an international cultural tour, taking part in the Oriental Concentus choral festival.

In 2015, I began studying with NZ Opera répétiteur and vocal coach Bruce Greenfield, and renowned New Zealand Baritone Roger Wilson. That year I was also a scholar with the Orpheus Choir of Wellington led by Brent Stewart and additionally performed with them during the New Zealand Festival 2016 singing in “The Royal Edinburgh Tattoo”, and the NZ premiere of John Luther Adam's “Sila, Breath of the World”.

In 2016, I was awarded a grant from the Dame Malvina Major Foundation that helped enable my continued vocal training. From this, I have had the opportunity to learn from renowned Mezzo-Soprano and head of classical voice at the New Zealand School of Music, Dr. Margaret Medlyn. I have also been a member of NZ Opera Freemason's chorus, singing in their 2016 English-language production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute".

Now back in New Zealand - I'm living and breathing music, and raising funds for the coming year of study in London. I have just finished performing with the NZ Opera chorus in their Wellington production of "Carmen", and will be following it up with Wellington and Auckland performances of Bizet's "La damnation de Faust" later in August. In September, I will travel back to the UK to begin my vocal training at Guildhall.