Lunch Time Concert - August (Jeff Stewart and Ben Saul)

Jeff Stewart studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, winning the Harold Rosenthal Award for outstanding achievement, and then at the National Opera Studio. In an extensive international Opera and concert career, Jeff has sung over 60 operatic roles covering a very wide variety of styles and genres from Almaviva (Barber of Seville) to Il Duca (Rigoletto), to the title role in Peter Grimes. He has appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, English National Opera, English Touring Opera, Opera North, Opera Holland Park, Opera Northern Ireland, Castleward Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düßeldorf, KomischeOper, Berlin, Bremen, Schwerin and Gera and Coburg, as well as the Macedonian National Opera. 

Jeff has also sung all over the world in concerts including The Dream of Gerontius in South Africa, Carmina Burana in Beijing, and Mozart's Missa Domenicus in the USA. He has appeared at all the major UK concert venues. 

Jeff teaches at the RCM and is also a busy choral conductor and choir trainer. His company “They Shall Laugh & Sing” has established a great reputation for their work with choirs and amateur singers, helping them to find joy and fulfilment through better singing practices.

Ben Saul grew up in North Wales and studied music at Durham University. Ben has a long history as a church musician, working in both Anglican and Catholic settings. He has served as assistant organist at St. George's Cathedral, Southwark, and as Director of music for various churches, including the Servite Prioryin Fulham, All Saints' in Blackheath, and the Shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury. He is currently Director of Music at St Mary of Charity civic church in Faversham. 

Ben is a noted music therapist, working in NHS Learning Disability Services. He is a teaching professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 

Ben is an accomplished organist and also plays the guitar and percussion. He is known for his work as an accompanist and also enjoys playing jazz. He runs a classical recital series in Faversham, featuring young musicians from around the world, held every Saturday morning. He is also the Head of Music at Lorenden Preparatory School.