This new partnership between the cathedral and University celebrates the close ties between the two institutions and ensures the continuation of professional music direction in the College.
At the Cathedral, Ben will be working alongside Daniel Cook, Master of the Choristers and Organist, Joseph Beech, Sub-Organist, Canon Michael Hampel, Vice-Dean and Precentor, the music team, and the cathedral choir. Ben’s role as Assistant Organist will consist of playing the cathedral organ during services, recitals and concerts; rehearsing and conducting the choir; taking an active role in the cathedral’s outreach singing programme, as well as close liaison with Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation.
Daniel Cook says,
“Ben comes to us with a wealth of experience from his time in church music and from his extensive studies. I am delighted that we are able to welcome someone with such a broad range of skills to join us as we continue to develop our music-making in the Cathedral and beyond.”
At St John’s, Ben will be working alongside The Revd Liz Kent, College Chaplain, leading a student team of choral scholars, organ scholars and student administrators, and assisting ordinands from Cranmer Hall in preparing to lead the musical elements of Choral Evensong.
Ben Mills was first a chorister at St Mary Magdelene, Newark-on-Trent before becoming organ scholar at Southwell Minster. Having initially studied the organ with Simon Hogan, he then took up the organ scholarship and read Music at Keble College, Oxford, where he accompanied the Chapel Choir on two BBC Radio 3 broadcasts and two discs to critical acclaim. After graduating in 2021, he moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music whilst also holding positions at St Mark’s, Hamilton Terrace and St Michael’s, Highgate.
Ben then moved to Salisbury to be Organ Scholar at Salisbury Cathedral, where he regularly accompanied the Cathedral Choir. He holds the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists and the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music. In his spare time, Ben enjoys cooking and reading thriller and detective novels.
