about
Ben Rowarth, Newcastle born composer, is widely recognised for his vocal writing and his music for film. Ben was brought up in the North East of England and went on to complete music degrees at Durham and York Universities. Over the last decade Ben has won multiple awards for his work including the NCEM Composer Award (York UK), Best Documentary Soundtrack Award (LIFF, Leeds UK), Best Original Score Award (CBFF, Carmarthen UK), Best Original Score Award (WMIFF Washington DC, USA). He now lives and works in London as a composer and performer.
Ben is currently composing scores for a feature film by Alessia Mandanici and short films by Sophia Carr Gomm and Harvey Pearson. He is also working on soundtracks for two live theatre productions with director Jack Furness: The Air Loom (2027) and Dracula (2028). In October 2026, Ben will be releasing a new classical crossover album called - ‘Sketches’. His choral work ‘The Shepherd Girl’ has just been recorded by New York based vocal ensemble ‘Skylark’ and will be released in December 2026. ‘The Fall’ (a new secular oratorio written for: Choir, Violin, Electronics), is due to be toured in 2027-28 by Siglo De Oro and Amy Tress following its recent world premiere at Wigmore Hall. Ben is also writing a new voice and violin duet which will be premiered at the Purbeck Arts Week by Helen Charlston in 2027.
Ben has composed music for TV, Film, Documentaries, Adverts, Live Theatre and Podcasts. Recent highlights include soundtracks to a BBC Travel Show Documentary and ‘Return’, a new short film by Sophia Carr Gomm for which Ben’s music won two Best Original Score awards. Other recent releases include the soundtrack to new short film ‘Yours Is The Earth’ (directed by Finn Lusty) and the BBC ‘Music and Meditation’ Podcast. He has also worked as a performing artist on soundtracks by composers such as John Powell and Benjamin Wallfisch, on feature films including ‘How to train your dragon’ and ‘Chicken Run’, and regularly contributes towards recordings in Abbey Road and Air Lyndhurst Studios, most recently for BBC’s latest series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Ben receives regular commissions and performances of vocal and instrumental works from leading ensembles and institutions including The BBC Singers, The Tallis Scholars, The Marian Consort, I Fagiolini, Merton College Oxford, York Minster, The Tower of London, Huddersfield Choral Society and. His music is often performed overseas, including by Atlanta Master Chorale (USA), Camerata Øresund (Denmark), The New Consort (USA), Fabercantus (Italy), Capella Dorestad (Netherlands), Divisi Singers (Australia), Washington Children’s Chorus (USA). Ben’s music has featured on multiple Classical album recordings and receives broadcasts on BBC Radio 3. 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 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 to have the opportunity to work closely with musicians recording or performing his work. He is next due to direct performances of ‘A Short Walk’ with the Fieri Consort in 2027.
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.