Clifford Benson

During his training at London's Royal College of Music, British pianist Clifford Benson worked under the guidance of Lamar Crowson and Cyril Smith. While still enrolled, he received the Chopin Sonata Prize, the Geoffrey Tankard Lieder Prize for Accompaniment, and the Tagore Gold Medal. Subsequent victories brought him first prize in both the BBC Beethoven Competition and the Munich International Duo Competition, each time partnering violinist Levon Chilingirian. His recital and recording partnerships encompassed violinist Shlomo Mintz, flutists Trevor Wye and William Bennett, baritone Stephen Varcoe, clarinetist Thea King, and vocalists Cleo Laine and Eartha Kitt; he also served as pianist for Jacqueline du Pré's BBC television master classes. A onetime member of the Nash Ensemble, Benson performed as soloist and chamber musician at the BBC Promenade Concerts and appeared under conductors Sir Charles Mackerras, George Hurst, Daniel Barenboim, and Neville Marriner. Among the world premieres he gave were Richard Rodney Bennett's Three Romantic Pieces and Malcolm Lipkin's Sonata No. 4. Extensive discography credits include numerous English works for Hyperion plus releases on Bravura, Chandos, CRD, CamerataTokyo, Beep, Deutsche Grammophon, and Unicorn. Benson himself composed, issuing several piano pieces; his Au revoir Sylvie, conceived for solo piano, was later orchestrated for and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. He instructed piano and chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music in London and frequently judged competitions and festivals.