Growing up in Aberystwyth, Welsh baritone Ben Watkins would cycle many miles every week in an attempt to get his voice sounding acceptable enough to continue his study of classical singing to a higher level. Eventually, he gained a full scholarship to the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama where he graduated in 2015. He continues to study with David Pollard and works regularly with coach Sandra Smith. In July 2017, Ben sang his debut role of Silvio (Pagliacci) in Provence, for Love To Sing Opera, and soon after, in November,  Bartley (Riders To The Sea by Vaughn Williams) for Midsummer Opera. In November 2018 Ben was also asked to reprise the role of Silvio for a schools performance of Pagliacci. In opera scenes at the Guild Hall Ben performed the roles of Papageno, (Die Zauberflote), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Rocco (Fidelio) and Rambaldo (La Rondine), as well as Old Man in the UK premier of Chaplin, the Musical. 

Equally comfortable singing Oratorio, Ben has a large repertoire and most recently sang the baritone solos in Faure Requiem for Les anis du Festi'Val de Musique in the south of France. He has been involved in a range of song projects and most recently took part in the London Song Festival Schubert Masterclass and Competition with Sophie Danneman. At the Guild Hall he worked closely with Jane Manning on contemporary song, Iain Burnside in a performance of the Morike Lieder and Susan Waters in a performance of Brahms Liebeslieder.  

Ben continues to nurture his keen passion for song repertoire and is busy preparing for his first performances of Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin in early 2019 as well as various recitals around London . Exciting future operatic plans include his role debut as Onegin, the title role of Eugine Onegin by Tchaikovsky for Serenata singers in February 2018, as well as Covering Tonio and Alifio (Pagliacci / Cavalleria Rusticana) for Kentish Opera in April 2018.