Robin Benton was born in Nottingham in 1941 where he learned to play the G Bass Trombone and later Tenor Trombone. Over the years he has enjoyed playing in orchestras, wind bands, theatre bands, brass groups and Big Bands.
He studied at London University (BMus) and Bath Spa University College (MA with Composition as main study). He also has an ARCM diploma in Military Bandmastership.
Robin spent over 30 years as a schoolteacher with 7 to 11 year old students, his school wind band winning an award in the National Finals of the McDonald’s ‘Child of Achievement’ competition and his school Handbell group performing his music at the Millennium Dome in January 2000. In 2002 he was a finalist in Classic FM’s ‘Music Teacher of the Year’ Competition.
Three full length musicals were amongst his first compositions, written for a local Youth Club when he was a teenager, and music for plays, orchestra, recorders, organ, brass band, choirs and handbell groups followed. His ‘Silver Celebration’ won a National Competition for a new handbell piece and his work has been broadcast by BBC Radio Bristol. The Royal Doulton Band premiered a competition winning march ‘The Music Makers’ and the ‘March of the Heroes’ (for handbells, brass ensemble and timps) is to be premiered at the International Handbell Symposium in Brisbane in 2006.
His music is published by Novello, EMI, Warwick Music and Mayola Music in England and Flagstaff Music, Emerson Music, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, National Music Publishers, High Meadow Music and Gold Branch Music in America.
Now retired, Robin is still busy as a composer and arranger is a member of the British Trombone Society and University of Bristol Composers’ Workshop. He plays Trombone with Bath University Big Band and is an active longbow archer with Bath Archers.
