Musical Director – Benedict Goodall

Benedict was born in Oxford and grew up playing and singing through the Oxfordshire County Music Service and in his father’s church choir. He read music at the University of Birmingham, studying conducting under Simon Halsey, Julian Wilkins and Daniele Rosina, and directing many of the University’s choirs and instrumental ensembles.

Alongside Cumnor Choral Society, Benedict currently directs newCHOIR Oxford, Chipping Norton Choral Society, the Oxford University Press Choir, the Cotswold Youth Choir, and the Oxford Youth Choirs.

In April 2025 he conducted a production of the opera Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten with the Oxford Concert Party, and across 2025 and 2026 he will be a guest conductor with Trinity Camerata. He has previously conducted Oxford Sinfonia, Adderbury Ensemble and St Giles Orchestra, and was Musical Director of Telford Orchestra.

In 2021 he was selected for the National Youth Choir’s Fellowship Scheme, working with the different choirs in the organisation, and he continues to work for the organisation as a conductor and singer. Alongside his regular conducting engagements, Benedict is in demand as a countertenor, having previously been a Stipendiary Clerk at Magdalen College, Oxford, and a lay clerk at the two Birmingham Cathedrals. When he is not performing, Benedict enjoys teaching singing, brass, and piano to children and adults.

http://www.bgoodallmusician.com

Rehearsal Accompanist – Fiona Hedges

Fiona had a year’s piano scholarship to Chetham’s Hospital School of Music where she studied with Anthony Goldstone. She also held a long-term East Riding County Scholarship to study cello with Anna Shuttleworth, professor at the Royal College of Music under whom she took an ARCM diploma.

After graduating from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, until Summer 2014 Fiona taught piano, cello, double bass, junior classes, theory, A level Harmony and Composition and class recorder, all at Rye St Antony School, Headington. From 1996-2016 Fiona was also the visiting teacher of classical double bass and piano at Headington Prep School; she also taught cello for a few years at Radley College.

She joined the Cotswold Ensemble in 1990 as cellist and now also manages it. She also manages the music of her late father Anthony Hedges, plays in the Oxford Sinfonia and other semi-professional standard local orchestras when possible and continues her busy home-teaching practice based in West Oxford.  

www.cotswold-ensemble.co.uk 

www.hedgeswestfieldmusic.co.uk