Ben Frampton conducted the LUUMS Symphony Orchestra from 2022-23.
Ben is currently working back at the University of Leeds as a Helpdesk Coordinator and as a Freelance Conductor, having studied Mathematics and Music as an undergraduate. He was part of the 2020 Cohort that started their LUUMS adventure online, playing instruments to each other in their first year accommodation via zoom with friends that he still adores to this day.
When in person rehearsals started again, Ben found himself as an esteemed member the majority of LUUMS ensembles and in his final year, became Symphony Orchestra Conductor, managed alongside his two wonderful friends, Jack and Romy which turned out to be the highlight of his time at university.
After Graduating in 2023, Ben has had an array of exciting opportunities including being Assistant Conductor to Odaline de la Martinez for the UK Premiere of Frida, a modern opera as well as working one-to-one with the Principal Director of Music for the Royal Marines Band Service. Ben is currently the Conductor/Musical Director for the Otley Chamber Orchestra and regularly guest conducts for Orchestras around Yorkshire and the North-West. On top of Orchestral work, he is currently working as a Musical Director for both Diva Productions and Powerhouse Theatre where he will be conducting Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the Alhambra in September 2026.
You had such a diverse experience across the society, including conducting, composing and performing. What was your proudest achievement?
Chris (L) and Ben (R)
performing the Piano Concerto with Symph
My good friend Chris Hughes successfully auditioned for the Symphony Orchestra concerto competition whilst I was the conductor, and he wanted to make his dream come true of playing Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto. I will gladly admit that I have never been more nervous for rehearsals and a concert in my life as Chris is such a talented pianist and I just didn’t want to let him down. We had numerous one-on-one rehearsals as well as rehearsals with Martin Pickard and I threw extra rehearsals at the orchestra to try and make this work (as well as trying to balance rehearsals for Mahler symphony no.1). Specifically, there is a section in the second movement of the concerto which I consistently couldn’t get right in rehearsals, and it kept me up all night.
On the day of the concert, I vividly remember giving Chris an almighty introduction, and I looked out to see his entire family and friends on the front row which terrified me even more. The result of this concert was simply breath-taking: Chris was simply awe-inspiring and every single member of symph came together immaculately and by some miracle it all came together magnificently (even that one section in the second movement!! When that worked, I gleamed up at the orchestra and couldn’t stop smiling). At the end of his performance, I remember hugging Chris, mainly in relief but in such pride in everyone that was involved. That moment-I hold dearest to me, surrounded by my wonderful friends and members of symph who had to put up with my constant ramblings, and I thank everyone who helped support myself and Chris in that concert. I am so proud that I got to do something so great with the people closest to me at that time.
Can you share one key experience in your time with LUUMS that has really helped you with your career as a conductor and musical director (or any other aspects of your career?)
LUUMS gives anyone/everyone an incredible experience of conducting regular rehearsals and concerts which is an incredible experience as you only get better at waving your hands at people when you have people to wave your hands at! Having such an inclusive and open space to simply mess up in front of everyone is simply fantastic as that set me up brilliantly for going into professional environments.
The workshops that I attended through LUUMS opportunities and the Departmental workshops allowed me to refine technique with fantastic musicians from Opera North, which was key to realising how much score prep and graft you have to put in before each rehearsal which I continue to learn from even now. I need to be careful as my old lecturers are now my colleagues but I think I learnt more in my time in LUUMS in terms of on-hand experience than I did in some of my lectures.
Was there anything you learned in your work with LUUMS that was unexpected or surprising?
It always surprised me how hard everyone in LUUMS worked to make this society work. Even now as I work on the music helpdesk, I witness all the tremendous effort from exec and wider exec and it amazes me what goes on just so that we can have these wonderful opportunities to perform and socialise together. This hard work really makes you realise how wonderful these concerts really are. I thoroughly agree with the sentiment from the 2016 film La La Land that “people love what other people are passionate about” and I think this rings true with LUUMS concerts.
What was your experience running such a large orchestra like? Have you worked on anything of that scale since?
Challenging at first! I had run small ensembles before, so a large-scale orchestra was an obstacle to balance everything. In the early rehearsals, I found that I’d spend the first hour rehearsing a load of string sections and the poor brass section played one or two notes so that was a swift lesson on planning and communicating effectively. Otherwise, I adored the whole process from rehearsals, sectionals and concerts where I learnt so much and had so much fun. Since then, I have had opportunities with larger orchestras and ensembles including a 120-piece Wind Orchestra down in Devon last summer which was insane!
What was your favourite LUUMS memory?
My previously mentioned final Symph concert with Chris is probably number one (just ignore the fact Mahler 1 slightly fell apart in the second half of that concert). After that there are so many: I have such fond memories of playing intro party on bass guitar with “Boogie Juice” where It’s Raining Men never sounded so good; The Swymph music tours always contained many a highlight, especially embarrassing everyone by turning up to a karaoke bar in swimming shorts as I didn’t bring any other shorts with me; and finally getting to watch the people closest to me get to show off how amazingly talented they are in concerts like the band project with live orchestra or getting to play in my friend’s compositions.
I have so many more amazing memories and each and everyone I shared with the most wonderful people, and I think that the things you accomplish are amazing but they are worth so much more when they are things you accomplished with others and you get to share that together.
If there’s one piece of advice you could share with current members, what would it be?
May 2022
Members of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra accessorise midway through a performance of Whitacre’s Godzilla Eats Las Vegas.
I have always lived by the advice “worrying is just suffering twice.”
Obviously with university, it comes with all its stresses but don’t forget to enjoy the concerts/socials and try not to let the worry of your deadlines stop you from having a great time. In my second year, I had an essay due in the same week as a load of the LUUMS concerts and my parents had come up to see me. I spent most the night before with my parents worrying about this deadline and telling them about it in depth. Thankfully my dad turned to me and said, “well at the end of the day, what are you going to remember more in a few years’ time, the essay or the concert tomorrow?” And you know what… he was correct.
Sorry Mike Allis, I still don’t have much of a clue about how the writing of H.G. Wells inspired Vaughan Williams’ symphonies, but I can recall in great detail how the SWO conductor decided to get changed halfway through “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas” into a full Elvis outfit without consulting the managers. Those are the funny moments that you cherish, and I implore you to try your best to enjoy all the experiences you go through during your time in LUUMS (whilst also trying to complete your deadlines).
Leeds University Union Music Society 