Biography

Winner of the NCEM Composers Award (2012) and Leeds International Film Festival Best Documentary Soundtrack (2013). Nominated for Best Original Soundtrack Award, WMIFF Washington DC (2025).

Ben Rowarth, Newcastle born composer who’s music has been described as “bold and brilliantly achieved”, is now recognised internationally for his ​“intelligent contemporary writing”(Classical Source). He has received commissions and performances from leading ensembles and institutions including 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).

Composing and arranging across a number of genres, Rowarth has also worked on soundtracks for short films, documentaries, live theatre and fine art exhibitions; most recently, composing and arranging for BBC’s The Travel Show.

Recent collaboration with singer-song writer JJ Draper saw Rowarth’s string arrangements feature on Draper’s latest album. His experimental vocal work The Short Walk of a Madman was used as the soundtrack to the silent film A Short Walk, directed by Sophia Carr-Gomm. Rowarth’s choral music has featured on recordings by The Marian Consort, Helen Charlston, ORA, Siglo De Oro, The Rodolfus Choir, Fieri Consort, Christchurch Cathedral Singers and Khoros. Rowarth’s music also receives regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, notably by The Tallis Scholars.

Born and raised in the North East of England, Rowarth is now based in London and compliments his composing with a busy career as a singer and conductor. His performing work has seen him tour worldwide, record soundtracks for feature films such as ‘How to Train your Dragon’, collaborate in sessions at Abbey Road Studios, perform under stage directors such as Peter Sellars and work with world renowned conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle and Marin Alsop.

In 2023, Ben was delighted to be appointed as a Stipendiary Lecturer in Music at the University of Oxford.

Upcoming projects include: the world premiere of a large-scale oratorio entitled The Fall at The Wigmore Hall, 3rd July, 2025. Written for Voices, Strings and Electronics, the new work will be performed by conductor Patrick Allies, violinist Amy Tress, cellist Maddie Cutter and vocal ensemble Siglo De Oro (currently resident at The Wigmore Hall). The 45 minute piece features a new libretto by writer and film director Sophia Carr-Gomm, bringing to life the myth of the Trojan horse and the self-destructive nature of humanity. Award winning ensemble Siglo De Oro will also be recording of Libera Nos (2015) for release as a Single later in 2025.

Upcoming film premieres include: Carr-Gomm’s new film Return, opening at the London Film Week, for which Ben’s soundtrack has been nominated for the ‘Best Original Soundtrack Award’ at the WMIFF Film Festival, Washington DC; and Yours Is The Earth, a beautiful short film by director Finn Lusty. Newly commissioned music (string quartet and vocals) for BBC Radio 3’s ‘Music and Meditation’ podcast will be released on Spotify, Apple Music and BBC Sounds on 1st June. Later in 2025 Ben will be collaborating with director Jack Furness on an immersive theatre project for release in 2026.

Following the premiere of new song cycle ‘Echo’ for award winning mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston and lutenist Toby Carr at the Purbeck Arts Week, the Festival have commissioned a new work for Charlston and ECSE to be premiered next year. 2026 will also see new works written for The Ligeti Quartet, Mezzo Soprano Carolyn Dobbin, Tenor Michael Lafferty and The Choir of University College, Durham.