Event EndedBen Creighton Griffiths Live @Insole Court

Insole Court

Fairwater Road, CF5 2LN, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Benjamin Creighton Griffiths

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Ben Creighton Griffiths is a touring Jazz and Classical musician based in South Wales, UK. He made his International debut at the 2004 1er Concours International de Harpe in Nantes, France where, aged 7, he came second in the Under 18 division. In 2006 he won the Under 13 Division of the Wales International Harp Festival before going on to win the 2008 Junior Lily Laskine competition in Paris, winning a concert harp in the process. Other competitions include runner up in the 2009 Texaco Young Musician of Wales, second place in the Elias Parish Alvars Competition 2008, and multiple 1st prizes throughout age categories at the Urdd Eisteddfod of Wales.International engagements include the Rio De Janeiro Harp Festival (2010, 2011, 2012), International Harp Festival of Sentmenat, Spain (2010, 2016), International Jazz Harp Academy, Netherlands (2010, 2013, 2016), 2nd International Harp Festival of Szeged, Hungary (2010), Arpa Plus Salamanca, Spain (2013), 1st Zagreb International Harp Festival, Croatia (2013), Journees De La Harpe en Caribbean, Guadeloupe & Martinique (2013, 2016, 2022), 1st International Prague Harp Festival, Czech Republic (2014), Dutch Harp Festival, Netherlands (2016), New Orleans Jazz and Pop Harp Weekend, USA (2017), ABRSM Summer Harp Academy, Louisville USA (2017), Camac Musikene, Spain (2018), Camac Tour, Netherlands (2018), Achill International Harp Festival (Ireland 2019), Godollo International Harp Festival, Hungary (2018), and Confluence New Delhi by HCL (India 2020).Benjamin has also performed at four World Harp Congress’ - Amsterdam (2008) with a performance alongside Russian harpists Andres and Artemy Izmaylov, Vancouver (2011) with a complete solo recital and participation in the memorial concert for Ceren Necipoglu, and Hong Kong (2017) with a complete solo jazz recital, solo performances in a presentation by Vanderbilt Music, and a duet with Catrin Finch during the handover ceremony. In Cardiff (2022) he performed with the Adrien Chevalier and Don Sweeney as the Transatlantic Hot Club, performed in A Tribute to Ann Griffiths, and gave a recital on the Camac Exhibition stand on their brand new Jubile model.Closer to home Ben has performed as a soloist at International and local festivals including the European Harp Symposium, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, Wales International Harp Festival, Summer Harp Festival, The Monmouth Festival, The East Anglia Harp Festival, The Trinity Harp Festival, The Ludlow Festival, Vale Jazz Festival, Cambridge Jazz Festival, Glasbury Arts Summer School, Harp on Wight, The Urdd Eisteddfod, The National Eisteddfod, Cardiff Camac Harp Weekend, Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, Aberjazz, Llandudno Jazz Festival, and Brecon Jazz Festival.Benjamin has worked with many charities over his career. He is an Official Ambassador for City Hospice (formerly George Thomas Hospice Care), The British Heart Foundation Cymru, and St. John Cymru Wales. On 1st March 2010 he performed at Clarence House for HRH the Prince of Wales at a reception for George Thomas Hospice Care.In the corporate market Ben has performed at numerous events, dinners, receptions, and presentations for companies and organisations across the world including HCL India, Cardiff Council, The Senedd (Welsh Parliament), Welsh Water, The Anglo/French Medical Society, The Catholic Bishop's Conference, The Draper's Company London, Marston's Brewery, and many more.As an Orchestral Musician Ben is the Principal Harp of Orchestra De Cymru and Orchestra West. He has also performed with The Welsh Sinfonia, Llandenny Strings, Cardiff Philharmonic, Chandos Symphony Orchestra, Taunton Sinfonietta, Hereford Sinfonia, Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Cymru, Les Alizés, the orchestra of Le Garde Républicaine, and more. He has also performed with numerous choirs as both a soloist and accompanist.Whilst continuing his classical work, Ben is now in increasing demand for his jazz performances, working as both a soloist and with bands, singers, and other artists. His jazz repertoire covers all genres, including Swing, Latin, Funk, Electronic and Fusion, Gypsy, and more. He works as both an acoustic artist and also makes extensive use of electronics. He has also been teaching a series of very successful 'Introduction to Improvisation' workshops as both one off events and at Harp Festivals worldwide, aiming to encourage harpists of all ages and abilities into the world of jazz.Benjamin has released several jazz CD's including his 'Incomplete A-Z of Jazz Harp', 'Pedals & Paws', and '1 Man Band'. His latest solo recording ‘La Vie an Rose’ (released September 2021) is an exploration into Gypsy Jazz, Swing, and French Chanson. Ben has also published numerous sheet music arrangements, both classical and jazz, including his popular 'Jazz Harp Series'. His largest work - Concerto for Jazz Harp and Symphony Orchestra - premieres on March 19th with the Chando Symphony Orchestra in Malvern.Ben works extensively with Avignon born and New York based gypsy jazz violinist Adrien Chevalier as part of their group – The Transatlantic Hot Club. Ben is also a founding member of Electro-Acoustic fusion group ‘Chube’ alongside percussionist Jon Bradford-Jones and bassist Ashley John Long.