RSM People: Ben Tarlton

For a musician to express themselves properly, they need not only ability, but also the right instrument. The Society’s Fine Instrument Scheme enables professional musicians to have use of high quality stringed instruments on a medium to long-term basis. The Scheme has recently been gifted a William Forster cello which has been made available to Ben Tarlton. He tells RSM what it means to have world-class equipment at his disposal.

What first interested you in becoming a cellist?

As my parents are both musicians and music runs in the family, I was surrounded by live playing constantly as a child and inevitably was given the chance to try out a few instruments. Whilst on the Junior programme at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama I quickly fell in love with the cello’s sonority and began lessons immediately aged 5. It wasn’t until I was around 9 or 10 that I began to take it more seriously and to push myself to develop quicker with the guidance of both my parents and the extraordinary teachers I was lucky enough to have. 

How did you first hear about RSM’s Fine Instrument Scheme and the work of the Society?

I heard about the Fine Instrument Scheme and the Society’s work from Member Justin Pearson, a former Chairman and Treasurer of RSM, whose benevolence has lead to me being able to have the wonderful opportunity to play on the William Forster cello.

RSM’s Fine Instrument Scheme was established in 2011 and currently comprises seven high quality stringed instruments. Six of the instruments have been purchased by RSM as part of syndicates and form just over 5% of our total investment portfolio.

Ben’s William Forster cello has generously been given to RSM in its entirety by Julia Crockatt, whose father, Alexander Goehr, Professor of Music at Leeds University, had been left the cello by his friend Lord Boyle, a minister in Winston Churchill’s Government before becoming Vice-Chancellor of Leeds University.

All the instruments with the Fine Instrument Scheme are made available to professional musicians, for use on a medium to long-term basis. This ensures each instrument continues to be played, which in turn, provides an opportunity to further increase awareness of our charity.

How important is it to have a fine instrument such as this William Forster example to play as a professional musician?

The instrument a musician uses is their vehicle for expression and to be able to play on such a fine instrument as the William Forster cello is a privilege and a luxury. Not only has it provided me with a sound world of colours and timbres that I had not been able to previously create, the instrument has taught me how to use my body in order to be able to get the best out of it and continues to teach me on a daily basis. This chance to grow my playing alongside discovering the capabilities of the cello is a beautiful journey to be on.

As the player and custodian of this cello, do you feel the responsibility of its care for future generations of cellists?

Absolutely. The cello has been around for over two hundred years, so to ensure that it can continue to be played by future generations of cellists, I feel a deep responsibility to care for it in a way that means it will sound just as good 200 years from now.

What are you your upcoming plans? Where can we see you perform next?

I am hugely enjoying a varied career in the freelance UK scene at the moment as a performer, teacher and Festival Director. I have found that these elements are all connected to one another and certainly the creativity needed for each one helps fuel the other in so many enriching ways. In July I’ll be performing recitals at Festivals in Highbarnet, Harrogate and Kings Lynn with pianist Robin Green as well as performing Schumann’s Cello Concerto in the Dora Stoutzker Hall, Cardiff, with Ignite Symphony Orchestra. 

Find out more about Ben and his upcoming engagements here.