Benji Lock was born in Port Talbot (Wales) in 2004. He started playing the piano aged 7 and attended the Junior Department at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama from the age of 10, where he became an ABRSM scholar and in 2017, won a scholarship to the Purcell School. Benji currently attends the Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded a full scholarship sponsored by Sir Elton John. He currently studies piano with Tatiana Sarkissova. Most recently, Benji was first prize winner in the Purcell School Concerto Competition where he played Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and in 2024, will perform it with the Purcell School Symphony Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square. His other recent successes include performing a solo recital at Wigmore Hall, 1st prize the Welsh International Piano Competition in 2021, 1st place in the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition (London) and 4th prize in the Young Pianist of the North Competition in 2019. Benji also enjoys composing and was shortlisted for the BBC Young Composer award in 2019. He particularly enjoys composing for film. Outside of music, Benji is a keen footballer and swimmer and, in 2013, was the Welsh Gymnastics Under 12 Club Champion.
