Ben Michaels
cellist
by Emma Werner
biog.
Ben Michaels is a British cellist based in London. He first learnt with his father, Joel Michaels, and later studied with Felix Schmidt and John Myerscough at the Royal Academy of Music.
Ben is passionate about chamber and contemporary music. He was a Chamber Fellow at the Academy 2020-22 and enjoys a varied chamber recital schedule alongside solo performing; he has a particular interest in commissioning and supporting new works written for solo cello. He was awarded the inaugural Keith Harvey Memorial Award by the London Cello Society (2022), which helped support the commission of a set of 6 short solo works written by a selection of cellist-composers. Alongside these projects, Ben performs with symphony and chamber orchestras around the UK, including on baroque cello. 2024 has included world premieres as part of Apartment House at Wigmore hall, Ben echoing around Lightroom for an immersive David Hockney exhibition with music by Nico Muhly, performances onstage as a solo cellist for 3-actor contemporary theatre and french baroque opera with the English Concert.
Before exploring his passion for music, Ben studied Biochemistry at Clare College, Cambridge.
Ben plays on a Gaetano Gadda cello, generously provided on loan by an anonymous benefactor.