Meet Benjamin Rous, Director of Music

What do you most enjoy about your own role? And why?

“This is such a musical school! It’s a real pleasure to work with the girls here and I love the creative and collaborative nature of my role.”

What is your own personal connection with music?

“I love all kinds of music and the connections music can bring you with people and places. Working as a composer, arranger, conductor and instrumentalist has taken me in wonderful and unexpected directions; when I started at the Royal College of Music, for example, I didn’t imagine I would end up playing Javanese Gamelan touring Europe and the UK, including performing at Glastonbury Festival.”

How is the music department at Roedean currently evolving?

“We’re constantly coming up with new ideas, especially for musical performance. We’ve recently introduced Roedean to promenade concerts which offer a dramatic and immersive musical experience. Our ‘Romance and Tragedy’ performance was a major success; telling the classic tale of Romeo & Juliet within the totally transformed spaces of the Library, the Cloisters and the Chapel, with the audience moving interactively among the performers. We’re working on the next one!”

Other future ambitions for the department?

“Yes, we’re introducing more conducting, composing and directing opportunities for the girls which is really important; this is something that doesn’t happen that frequently in schools and we want to change that. We’re also replacing our existing pianos through a new partnership with Steinway which is wonderful news. And we’re delighted to be resuming our international tours in 2023.”

What are your favourite personal memories of your time at Roedean?

“I’ll never forget arriving at Roedean for the first time for my interview – the view of the school and from the school was spectacular and I was really made to feel at home straight away. I also loved the moment last year at the end of our ‘All Together Now’ show as the orchestra played on after the curtain closed and the whole cast was dancing!”