A new chapter for our In-Schools Programme
“We are delighted to welcome Cole Bendall to the PMF team as In-Schools Programme Lead. This appointment reflects the growing presence of PMF in the local community at a time when, across the country, there is a national crisis in the prioritization of the arts. The need for local organizations such as PMF continues to grow. This appointment reflects our determination for a long-term and committed presence within our local schools. Throughout our recruitment process, we were highly impressed with the skill, dedication, enthusiasm, and experience Cole demonstrated. He brings to PMF an expertise and enriched influences by the outstanding national organizations he has worked with.”
As In-Schools Programme Lead, Cole’s primary responsibility is to oversee the charity’s curriculum-enhancing programmes in PMF’s partner schools. Cole’s work entails building relationships with schools by developing schemes of work, education resources and delivering a variety of in-school and community music sessions.
A decorated conductor and educator, Cole is regularly in demand to host training for students and teachers at music hubs, state and independent schools, universities and the ABRSM; he has also provided coaching for the Rodolfus Foundation and National Youth Choir. He has led seminars on conducting, video game music, Kodály musicianship and eliminating barriers for neurodiverse people in music. He has conducted the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music, Berlin Radio Choir, Turkish State Choir and was an Orchestral Conducting Fellow at the Miami Music Festival, USA. Slightly more locally, he conducts Woking Choral Society, Brockham Choral, Holmbury St Mary Choral and is a peripatetic singing and choral teacher at Cranleigh School, Surrey.
Outside of his music making, Cole has written for The Choral Journal and Oxford University Press. He is currently preparing a guidebook on choral singing in schools. Cole lives on the outskirts of London with his wife, Alicia, and their cat, Brontë.
“It is a genuine joy and delight to be working with Pimlico Musical Foundation to lead their In-Schools Programme. I’m eager to build on their historic successes to ensure that each child in Pimlico has access to a world-class, fun-filled musical education that will inspire lifetimes of musical engagement.”
