GLOUCESTER—Abingdon Episcopal Church, on Route 17 in White Marsh, Gloucester County, will host Benjamin Sheen from England in the 4th concert this season in the Arts at Abingdon Concert Series, its 33rd year. The concert will be held Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at the church. Admission is free but a free-will offering will be accepted.
Sheen, newly appointed sub-organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, England, is one of the UK’s brightest young organists. Hailed as “brilliant” by the New York Times, he is the 2013 winner of the Pierre S. du Pont first prize in the inaugural Longwood Gardens Organ Competition and received second prize and the Jon Laukvik prize at the St. Alban’s International Organ Competition 2013. After seven years in New York City as associate organist at Saint Thomas Church in New York City, Sheen accepted the post of sub-organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, UK, beginning January 2020.
He began his musical career as a chorister for six years at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, under the direction of John Scott, during which time he gained a music scholarship to Eton College. He holds degrees from the University of Oxford and the Juilliard School and is also a prize-winning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and the 2011 recipient of the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
