CHORAL CONDUCTING
Ben-David is an aspiring choral conductor as well as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter with roots in Celtic, Classical, and Folk music. He lives with one foot in the choral/sacred music world and one in the folk music world. A native of California, Ben-David has lived in CA, CO, VA, OH, WI, as well as Austria, Canada, and Nicaragua.
After earning a double major in Humanities & Catholic Culture and Philosophy with a minor in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, he toured extensively for four years with the Celtic/Americana Folk-Rock Band Scythian. During that time he became the Assistant Music Director at St.Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Charlottesville, VA where he directed two college chapel choirs and one contemporary music team for five years. After studying choral conducting at The University of Virginia for a year with Michael Slon, he served for three years as the assistant conductor of The University Singers at UVA; two of which he was also the assistant conductor for The Oratorio Society of Virginia.
He is currently pursuing a masters degree in choral conducting at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., is the music director at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ellicott City, MD, and continues to perform folk and original music on the side.
Works Conducted in Concert with The UVA University Singers
and The Oratorio Society of Virginia
Precious Lord, Take My Hand, Arr. Roy Ringwald
Listen to the Lambs, R. Nathaniel Dett
The Road Home, Stephen Paulus
Carol of the Bells
Riu, Riu, Chiu
Once in Royal David’s City, Arr. D. Wilcox
Joy to the World, arr. John Rutter
Loch Lomond, arr. R. Vaughan Williams
Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit, William Dawson
Candlelight Carol, John Rutter
Selected Works Conducted in Rehearsal:
Magnificat, J.S. Bach
Dona Nobis Pacem, R. Vaughn Williams
Chichester Psalms, L. Bernstein
Mass, L. Bernstein
Come to the Woods, Jake Runestad
Welcome All Wonders, J.A.C. Redford
Gloria, A. Vivaldi
Testament of Freedom, Randall Thompson
Rejoice in the Lord, Let Nimrod the Hunter, B. Britten
The Battle of Jericho, Moses Hogan
Hashkiveinu, L. Bernstein
Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo, F. J. Haydn
Hymn to the Virgin, Benjamin Britton
Mvmt 21d Kruezige, from St. John’s Passion, J.S.
Bach Deus in Adjutorium Meum, B. Britten
Zadok the Priest, G.F. Handel
Tundra, Ola Gjeilo
If Ye Love Me, Thomas Tallis
Sicut Cervus, Palestrina