Ben A. Spalding

Ben A. Spalding is one of the most exciting professional choral conductors of his generation — an exemplary conductor, creative programmer, composer, arranger, keyboard artist, and arts entrepreneur whose skills are increasingly in demand. Hailed for creating "exceptional sonic painting" (Kansas City Star), Spalding is the Founder and Artistic Director of Kansas City's Spire Chamber Ensemble and Baroque Orchestra, which has quickly gained a national reputation for its historically informed interpretations of Baroque and Classical repertoire and its championing of contemporary American composers. In December 2020, the New York Times featured selections from Spire's live performances in an article about Handel's Messiah during the pandemic.

Spalding has a particular interest in promoting the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and is an established 
early music leader. He recently conducted nearly half of Bach's sacred cantatas (approximately 100), plus multiple performances of Bach's choral-orchestral masterworks, Christmas and Easter Oratorios, Magnificat, B-minor Mass, and St. Matthew and St. John Passions. As a champion of new music, he has commissioned works from leading composers including Jake Runestad, Zachary Wadsworth, John Muehleisen, Jonathan Woody, and Sir James MacMillan.

Maestro Spalding is deeply passionate about inspiring the next generation of choral conductors and has 
founded two distinctive programs through Spire: a summer conductor and emerging professional singer 
institute, and a year-long conducting fellowship. He has served as guest conducting teacher and lecturer 
at the University of Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Kansas, University of Maryland, University of North Texas, Syracuse University, University of Iowa, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and has presented at both the American Choral Directors Association and American Guild of Organists National Conventions.