“Jack is a highly skilled pianist, arranger and conductor. We worked together in preparation for a recording (which he conducted at Abbey Road) and for the stage production of ‘At Last, It’s Summer’ by Clive Richard Davis at the Palladium. He has all the skills required to be a first-call MD and pianist in the West End. His talents at working with singers and choral arrangements are all first-rate! Bravo Jack!”
Jack Bennett is a UK-based musical director, pianist, arranger and educator with a diverse career spanning 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 for 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. See below for full credits.
A versatile pianist and keyboard player, Jack regularly performs in the West End, as well as accompanying concerts, exams and masterclasses. His theatre credits include deputising on Sunset Boulevard, Wicked, Frozen and The Lion King, as well as working as an opera répétiteur and ballet pianist. Jack also records broadcast-quality piano tracks from his home studio and serves as 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 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 continues to deliver classes and workshops internationally. He also offers private lessons in piano, music theory, clarinet, aural and conducting.
Jack holds an undergraduate music degree from Royal Holloway, University of London and a postgraduate degree in jazz arranging from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
View Jack’s Credits
Click or tap an item to view credits:
As Musical Director:
Merrily We Roll Along (Urdang 2024)
At Last, It’s Summer (London Palladium 2023)
At Last, It’s Summer (Bishopsgate Institute 2021) – workshop
The Wizard of Oz (Edinburgh Fringe 2019)
Little Shop of Horrors (EM Forster Theatre 2019)
The Addams Family (Edinburgh Fringe 2018)
Jesus Christ Superstar (EM Forster Theatre 2018)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Stag Sevenoaks 2017/18)
Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure (Edinburgh Fringe 2017)
Sweeney Todd (EM Forster Theatre 2017)
Sleeping Beauty (Stag Sevenoaks 2016/17)
Elf The Musical (Edinburgh Fringe 2016)
Rent (Ship Theatre 2016)
Seussical (Ship Theatre 2016)
Dick Whittington (Britannia Theatre 2015/16)
Into The Woods (Edinburgh Fringe 2015)
Jack and the Beanstalk (Stag Sevenoaks 2015)
Cinderella (Harlow Playhouse 2014/15)
Sleeping Beauty (Secombe Theatre 2014)
As Conductor:
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Central Theatre Chatham 2024)
The Phantom of the Opera (Malthouse Theatre 2024)
Les Misérables School Edition (Malthouse Theatre 2024)
School of Rock (Central Theatre Chatham 2023)
The Wizard of Oz (Stag Sevenoaks 2018)
As Associate Conductor:
The Boy Friend (Menier Chocolate Factory 2019/20)
As Assistant MD:
HERE & NOW (The Alexandra 2024)
Urinetown (Barbican 2022)
As Music Supervisor:
Sleeping Beauty (EM Forster Theatre 2020)
Jack and the Beanstalk (EM Forster Theatre 2018)
Aladdin (EM Forster Theatre 2017)
Bugsy Malone (Trinity Theatre 2016)
Hairspray (Trinity Theatre 2014)
Additionally youth musical theatre showcases and summer workshops, including: 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin KIDS, Alice in Wonderland, Back to the 80s, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, Pinocchio, The Aristocats, The Jungle Book and Wind in the Willows.
Concerts/Cabaret as Musical Director include: Riddles & Romance (Underbelly Boulevard 2024), Baby Broadway (various London venues, including The Actors’ Church, artsdepot, The Other Palace and Woolwich Works, 2019–), Luke Bayer (Crazy Coqs, Brasserie Zédel 2019), Roles We’ll Never Play! (Ninety One Living Room 2019) and West End charity concert Songs4Soi (Actors’ Church 2017).
Recordings: At Last, It’s Summer (Abbey Road 2021) – concept album
In the West End, Jack has deputised on Sunset Boulevard (Savoy Theatre 2023), Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre 2022–), Frozen (Theatre Royal Drury Lane 2021-2024) and The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre 2019–). Other depping includes: The Greatest Show: Songs from Hollywood (UK Tour 2018) and shows at Brick Lane Music Hall.
Jack has also held keyboard chairs on Bare: A Pop Opera (The Vaults 2019) and Brexit The Musical (Adelaide House 2017).
Credits on amateur shows (not including those as MD) include: 9 to 5, Annie, Avenue Q, Bugsy Malone, Cats, Copacabana, Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, Footloose, Grease, Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, In The Heights, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Legally Blonde, Les Misérables, Loserville, Made in Dagenham, Oliver!, Our House, Phantom of the Opera, Singin’ in the Rain, Sister Act, The Addams Family and The Full Monty.
Testimonials
“I was fortunate enough to work with Jack when he was Associate Conductor on the 2020 revival of ‘The Boy Friend’ at Menier Chocolate Factory. He has a natural talent and understanding of musical theatre and of storytelling, both through song and dance. His work is of the highest professional standard and I look forward to working with him again.”
“I have worked with Jack on a few occasions both as an MD and as an orchestrator. His attention to detail and professionalism is of the highest level. He is both easy to work with and extremely hard working. I look forward to future projects with him.”
“It has been brilliant working with Jack on various productions. He is very hardworking, efficient and creative.”
“Jack is a legend! Helped me out really last minute when I desperately needed tracks recording. Really went out of his way and I’m forever grateful! Thank you!”
“I’ve had the great pleasure of working with Jack at Brick Lane Music Hall where he is a regular keyboard deputy. He’s a great musician, conscientious and always well prepared. It’s a joy to have him sitting opposite me in the pit as I know that Keys 2 is in safe hands. His reliability, musicianship and warm personality make him a great asset to the music team at Brick Lane.”
“Jack is fantastic conductor, musical director, keyboard player and all-round musician. However his skills don’t stop at being a musician, he really understands team dynamics, and how to get the best from bands, directors and performers. His charts are flawless and his execution on gigs is clear, yet still depicting emotion, be it down the stick, behind a keyboard or in the studio. He’s a great guy to have about and a brilliant guy to work for.”
See some examples of projects with which Jack has been involved
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