Jack Bennett
Jack Bennett is a musical director, pianist, arranger and educator, with a career that spans theatre, television, sessions, concerts and educational projects worldwide.
As an MD and conductor, Jack enjoys working on everything from large-scale productions to intimate cabarets and workshops. Highlights include a gala concert at the London Palladium and conducting a 35-piece orchestra at Abbey Road Studios for a new musical orchestrated by Larry Blank. He was Associate Conductor on the 2019 revival of The Boy Friend at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the same year he won the National Youth Arts Outstanding Musical Direction award for Little Shop of Horrors. For a full credits, visit jackwbmusic.com.
A versatile pianist and keyboard player, Jack regularly performs in the West End and accompanies concerts, exams and masterclasses. His theatre work includes deputising on Sunset Boulevard, Wicked, Frozen and The Lion King, in addition to playing for auditions and rehearsals. He has worked as an opera répétiteur and ballet pianist and is also a piano and keyboard examiner for MTB.
Known for his imaginative and meticulous arrangements, Jack has written for everything from concert orchestras and choirs to big bands and string quartets. Familiar with a broad range of musical styles, he produces detailed and well-presented sheet music and high-quality click and backing tracks, with several pantomime seasons to his name. He also has extensive experience creating bespoke orchestrations for educational settings at all levels, consistently delivering music that people want to hear and musicians want to perform.
With many years of teaching experience, Jack has inspired students of all ages and abilities. He has taught on degree and diploma courses at ArtsEd, East 15, Laine Theatre Arts and Urdang, and served for seven years as Music Supervisor for then-award-winning youth theatre company The Talentz. He continues to deliver classes and workshops internationally.
Jack holds an undergraduate music degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, where he studied piano, clarinet and organ, and a postgraduate degree in jazz arranging from Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
@jackwbmusic
Session: Unlocking Schwartz
Step into the world of Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist behind some of musical theatre’s most iconic works. Over a career spanning five decades, Schwartz has left an enduring legacy on the genre, earning three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a place in the Theatre Hall of Fame.
This course, designed for seasoned performers and creatives, offers an in-depth exploration of Schwartz’s distinctive craft. You’ll examine his contributions to musical scores Pippin, The Baker’s Wife, his expressive lyrics in Godspell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and the shows where he has written both Children of Eden, Wicked.
Throughout the week students will:
- enhance their integration of acting, singing and dance to bring Schwartz’s intricate characters and fantastical worlds to life
- dissect Schwartz’s lyrics with text-based work to uncover their deeper layers of meaning
- investigate the staging and direction of Schwartz’s most celebrated shows, focusing on how his collaborators’ additions of movement and design amplify storytelling
- study Schwartz’s signature musical style, learning how his compositions shape narrative and character arcs
- take part in a Schwartz-themed acting through song masterclass, with the chance to perform solo material and receive critique
- immerse in ensemble work, tackling rich harmonies and finessing vocal blending in Schwartz’s group numbers
- benefit from continuous, personalised input from two seasoned West End professionals to support your artistic journey
“So much of me is made of what I learned from you...” – so come and join us to unlock your own unique performance style through the works of Dr Schwartz!
Please note there may be a small additional cost for course materials, but we will endeavour to keep this minimal.