Benjamin Frith

Life student of Dame Fanny Waterman, Benjamin Frith embarked on his career by winning the Dudley National Concerto Competition, aged fourteen, performing Saint-Saens 2nd Piano Concerto. His many awards culminated in top prize at the Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, and the Gold Medal at the Artur Rubinstein Piano Master’s Competition, also receiving the special prize for chamber music.

Many engagements with world renowned orchestras followed, such as IPO, Warsaw Philharmonic, Halle, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Camerata plus recital tours from the far East to North America. A debut recording of the Diabelli Variations (ASV) led to an ongoing Naxos collaboration for whom he made a best-selling John Field Concerto Cycle with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, recently reissued with the complete Nocturnes and Sonatas. His solo recording of Schumann’s highly personal Davidsbündler op. 6 received the top recommendation on Radio Three’s programme, “CD Review”.

During the latter half of his career there has been a concentration on the chamber repertoire, principally as pianist in the Gould Piano Trio. He has also formed the enterprising Frith Piano Quartet and has been guest pianist in the Nash Ensemble.

Benjamin feels close to his South Yorkshire roots in Sheffield with his partner, Heidi Rolfe, who will join him for a Wigmore Piano Duo Day.

Benjamin’s recording of CV Stanford’s 2nd Piano Concerto with BBC National Orchestra of Wales was chosen by Gramophone as a ‘Disc of the Year’ and he features with Peter Hill on an anniversary disc of Beethoven’s complete music for 4 hands.