We are delighted to announce that Ben Gudgeon has been appointed Head of The Yehudi Menuhin School and will take up the post on 1 April 2020, succeeding Richard Tanner who retires as Interim Head on 31 March.
Ben is currently Senior Deputy Head (Pastoral) at Sherborne Girls, a full-boarding school in Dorset. He leads the pastoral provision of the school, before which he oversaw staff development, the co-curricular programme and the day-to-day running of the school. He read Music and French at Bristol University and at the Sorbonne, in Paris. Following this, he undertook graduate studies in vocal performance, conducting and piano in the USA, where he also taught undergraduate music theory and piano. Before turning to teaching, Ben spent ten years as a freelance musician, working as a tenor lay-clerk, animateur, accompanist, musical director and jazz pianist. Prior to his current role, he was Head of the Faculty of Performing Arts at Churcher’s College, and then Director of Music at Dauntsey’s School.
Ben will be moving to YMS with his wife, Melissa, a teacher of Religious Studies, and their six-year-old son.
“The Yehudi Menuhin School is a world-renowned centre of excellence, and I am thrilled to be appointed as Head. My wife and I cannot wait to join the community and be a part of the next phase of the school’s future.”