about
Ben Rowarth, Newcastle born composer, is recognised internationally for his work for film and his choral writing. He has received commissions and performances from leading ensembles and institutions including The Tallis Scholars, BBC Singers, The Marian Consort, I Fagiolini, Merton College Oxford, York Minster, The Tower of London, Huddersfield Choral Society and The London Festival of Contemporary Church Music. His choral works are regularly performed overseas, including by Atlanta Master Chorale (USA), The New Consort (USA), Fabercantus (Italy), Capella Dorestad (Netherlands), Divisi Singers (Australia). Ben’s choral music has featured on multiple choral recordings. His music receives regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and his experimental vocal work The Short Walk of a Madman was also used as the soundtrack to the silent film A Short Walk, directed by Sophia Carr-Gomm.
Ben has composed music for Film, TV, Documentaries, Adverts, Live Theatre and Podcasts. He has received multiple nominations and awards for his work including Best Original Score at BAFTA qualifying CBFF (UK), WMIFF (Washington DC), and Best Documentary Soundtrack Award (Leeds International Film Festival). He has also worked as a performing artist on soundtracks by John Powell and Benjamin Wallfisch, on feature films including ‘How to train your dragon’ and ‘Chicken Run’, and regularly contributing towards recordings in Abbey Road and Air Lyndhurst Studios, most recently for BBC’s latest series of Strictly Come Dancing.
2024/25 saw the soundtracks to a BBC Travel Show Documentary and ‘Return’, a new short film by Sophia Carr Gomm that has since gone on to receive multiple awards and nominations. Recent releases include the soundtrack to new short film “Yours Is The Earth” (directed by Finn Lusty) and the BBC ‘Music and Meditation’ Podcast. Ben is currently composing scores for a short films by Sophia Carr Gomm and Harvey Pearson, and a feature film by Alessia Mandanici.
Ben balances his composition practice with a busy performing schedule as singer and conductor. He has worked extensively with some of the UK’s finest professional ensembles, including BBC Singers, I Fagiolini, Siglo De Oro, Exaudi, The Tallis Scholars and The Fieri Consort, and some of the world’s most renowned conductors, including Sir Simon Rattle and Marin Alsop. His experience as a singer gives him a unique take on workings of the voice, the practicalities of performing choral music and the creative potential of music written for singers. As a conductor, he is always delighted at the opportunity to work closely (whether conducting workshops, rehearsals or concerts) with ensembles performing his work. He is next due to direct performances of ‘A Short Walk’ with the Fieri Consort in 2026.
Ben holds the post of Stipendiary Lecturer in Music at the University of Oxford. His music is published worldwide by Harrison Parrott’s publishing arm ‘Birdsong’ and distributed worldwide by Faber Music Publishing.
