Born in Manchester in 1980, Benjamin Birtle is a versatile professional British cellist who has performed both as a soloist and chamber musician.
In 2001, Benjamin won 1st prize in the Bromsgrove International Young Musician's Platform. Other competition successes include first prizes at the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year, Chandos Competition and the Rosemary Bursary Trust.
Benjamin has given many solo performances with orchestras including Dvorak cello concerto with Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Curtis, Haydn D Major cello concerto with Gloucester Youth Orchestra conducted by Charles Peebles, and Elgar cello concerto with the
Mid-Somerset Orchestra conducted by Stephen Smith.
In 1999 he performed the Walton cello concerto with Chethams School of Music on tour around the UK, including a performance at the Walton Festival in the presence of Lady Walton. It followed with a repeat performance at the Bridgewater Hall with the Halle Orchestra.
Benjamin has given many recitals both in the UK - such as Cheltenham Music Festival and internationally in Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Singapore.
His love for chamber music has taken his cello and double bass duo Bass Instinct on tour in USA and Spain with co-founder Matthew Baker; and in the UK with pianist Duncan Honeybourne doing piano and cello duets, and most recently in Butlers Marston as a piano trio. He was a Musician in Residence for the Two Moors Music Festival for two years and his forthcoming engagements includes a recital in London with Dave Daly, Principal Bassist of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a recital in Poole in November.
He studied with Alexander Kok, Peter Dixon, Kim Dinitzen and currently with Raphael Wallfisch. He has benefited from several masterclasses with eminent cellists such as Ralph Kirshbaum, Steven Doane, Aldo Parisot, Paul Katz, Harvey Shapiro, David Strange and Desmond Hoebig.
He is passionate about teaching and has given private lessons for nearly 20 years. He currently teaches at Moyles Court School in Ringwood and private lessons in and around Hampshire, and Dorset.
Benjamin plays a 1690 Giovanni Grancino and a 1998 Colin Irving cello.