Ben Donnelly

Ben Donnelly is a British and Irish musician, born in 1983. Originally from West London, Ben relocated to Cambridge as a child where he began learning Saxophone and Bassoon under Viv and Jon Halton. Following this he graduated from the University of Surrey's Tonmeister degree course in Music and Sound Recording, during which time he was awarded the MCPS Joyce Dixey Prize for Composition.

Since then he qualified as a classroom music teacher and taught music, music technology and maths to pupils of all ages, including adults, in London, Cambridgeshire and Kuwait.

During this time he began his career as a London musician writing for and performing with progressive jazz orchestra LJC, culminating in their 2007 Album "Dark Humour" featuring two examples of Ben's compositions and arrangements. Ben has since worked as house saxophonist aboard P&O Cruises ship MV Oriana in 2010, and his biggest musical undertaking yet has been as Arranger and Musical Director on Joe Francis's 2011 album "Where Do I Go From Here?" with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

He formed his band Platonic Curry in January 2011 as a more direct outlet for his work as a composer, saxophonist, improviser and bandleader through which he is claiming his place in the London Jazz scene. Ben has also performed in many musical theatre productions on Saxophone, Bassoon and Clarinet, including well known shows such as 42nd St, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story and Sweet Charity.