Musicians of sinfonia ViVA

Benedict Holland
Leader/Artistic Advisor

Benedict Holland studied the violin at the Royal Academy of Music with Manoug Parikian and later at the Royal Northern College of Music, with Yossi Zivoni, where he won many awards, both for solo performance and chamber music.

In April 2006, Benedict became Artistic Advisor of sinfonia ViVA, a diverse role which entails appearing as director and soloist, performing chamber music and participating in education projects. Recent appearances with ViVA have included performances of concertos by Mozart and Mendelssohn, and Vivaldi's Four Seasons; chamber music has taken him from duos to octets; he has directed Viennese concerts from the violin and has collaborated with students from schools and colleges in the East Midlands. He was director and soloist for ViVA's May 2009 London debut at Kings Place, with the celebrated Indian classical violinist Kala Ramnath, performing Piazzolla’s Four Seasons.

As a chamber musician, he has worked with various ensembles both in the UK and Europe, undertaking British Council tours, and was a founder member of the Matisse Piano Quartet with whom he broadcast regularly for the BBC. As an orchestral player, he has appeared as guest leader with many of the country’s major orchestras, including the BBC Philharmonic, Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Northern Sinfonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Ensemble. He has also appeared as leader and soloist with The Orchestra of the Golden Age which performs on authentic instruments.

In addition to directing and leading, in 2002 Benedict began an association with Opera North as Assistant Conductor on productions of The Secret Marriage, Francesca da Rimini and The Magic Flute, and in the summer of 2004 he conducted Opera North's production of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice at the Grand Theatre, Leeds.

Benedict also devotes much of his time to teaching, with classes at the RNCM, the University of Manchester and Chetham's School of Music. He has acted as External Examiner for Trinity College of Music and Leeds College of Music and taken masterclasses at St Mary's School, Edinburgh; Liverpool University, Uppingham School and The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Read full biography (PDF document)

Photo credit: Roger V Moody