Benjamin Loomes, tenor

Benjamin Loomes is an honours graduate in music from the University of Sydney, where he majored in composition.
Benjamin studied voice with Maree Ryan, and currently works with Stephen Yalouris. Benjamin was a founding member of Pinchgut Opera directed by Antony Walker, and performed as soloist in "Orfeo", released on CD by ABC Classics. As well as numerous other oratorio performances in Australia and the UK, in 2004 he sang the tenor solo in "Messiah" at Sydney Town Hall and was featured in the ABC TV documentary "Fly on the Wall Messiah". Benjamin is currently working as a musical director in Opera Australia's WotOpera project.

In 2003, Benjamin performed the role of Brian in his chamber opera "The Boat", and he sang the title role in the opera "The Game Master" at the Seymour Centre. Benjamin sang a lead role in " Eugene and Roe" as a part of the 2004 Sydney Festival. Benjamin works regularly with Australian film composers, and in 2006 his voice appeared in the short film "Sexy Thing" at the Cannes Film Festival. Last year Benjamin travelled to London where he sang the lead role in the new musical "Crusade", which he co wrote. "Crusade" was workshopped by Kookaburra and will debut in December at St Andrew Cathedral School. Past roles with Rockdale Opera include: Gabriel Eisenstein in Johann Strauss' "Fledermaus"; and the title Role in "Fra Diavolo". This year he starred as Sir Walter Raleigh in German's "Merrie England". Benjamin's last performance with SSSO was as the tenor soloist in Mozart's "Requiem".

Benjamin Loomes with Susannah Lawergren in "Merrie England"