Winner of the NCEM Composer Award (2012) and Leeds 24 Hour Film Festival Documentary Soundtrack Award (2013), Ben Rowarth is a London based composer who has written for choirs and orchestras, Film, Theatre and Documentary Soundtracks, and cross genre collaborations. His music has seen broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and Scala Radio amongst others and received exceptional reviews from Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, Arts Desk and Classical Source. He also performs regularly as a Bass-Baritone and is a Stipendiary Lecturer at the University of Oxford.
Soundtrack ShowReel
Video demos available on request.
Recent & Upcoming highlights
Film Premiere: Return (and ‘Best Original Soundtrack’ Nomination)
Return, director Sophia Carr Gomm with original soundtrack by Ben Rowarth, premiered at London Film Week December 2024.
It has also been nominated for the ‘Best Original Soundtrack Award’ at the World Music and Independent Film Festival in Washington DC, May 2025.
BBC Travel Show Soundtrack
Original music for the soundtrack to the BBC Travel Show, released 2024, available to watch now on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0020g9t/the-travel-show-the-bahamas-natural-wonders-of-the-caribbean
BBC Podcast Soundtrack
Ben is currently working on original soundtrack music for one of the BBC Sound meditation podcasts for release in early 2025.
World Premiere: ‘The Fall’ at The Wigmore Hall
Siglo De Oro and Amy Tress, July 2025
I am once again collaborating with Writer and Film Director Sophia Carr Gomm on a new large-scale choral work commissioned by innovative vocal ensemble, Siglo De Oro. The piece will use voices, cello and electronics to bring to life Sophia’s fascinating libretto based on the myth of the Trojan horse that delves deep into the self destructive nature of humanity.
This piece will be premiered at The Wigmore Hall in July 2025.
Film Premiere:
The Premiere of new short film Yours Is The Earth, director Finn Lusty, with an original soundtrack by Ben Rowarth - in film festivals in 2025.
Watch this space for more info…
Helen Charlston (Mezzo) and Toby Carr (lute)
‘Echo’, Barnes Music Festival, 2025
This new song, cycle commissioned by award winning duo Helen Charlston and Toby Carr, received it’s premiere at the York Early Music Festival, July 2024 and will next be performed in the Barnes Music Festival, March 2025 before being recorded ready for release in 2026. https://barnesmusicfestival.com/
RECENT
Musical Commissions and Premieres:
Some recent world premieres include -
‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ - a new Christmas Carol commissioned by Huddersfield Choral Society.
The Shepherd Girl - another new Christmas work commissioned by The Tower of London (video above)
Here is a review of I Fagiolini’s first performance with Tamsin Greig in Gramophone magazine. Having been toured around European concert venues, it is now travelling to the USA in 2023.
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/article/re-wilding-the-waste-land
Education:
Ben’s popular education piece ‘The World Around Us’ was once again performed by a number of primary and middle schools alongside the internationally renowned ensemble ‘The Marian Consort’ at The Dunster Festival this year.
Film Premiere:
World Premiere of A Short Walk a film created by director Sophia Carr Gomm as a collaboration with my 2018 vocal work The Short Walk of a Madman which acts as the film’s soundtrack.
This film will be being shown alongside live soundtrack performances in European venues from Autumn 2025. Watch the trailer at the top of this web page.
concert Works (Choral)
If you are interested in commissioning Ben or performing his music, please contact:
Agent: Charlie-Rose Blockley
Publisher: Milly Paine