About
Benjamin Oliver is a composer, conductor and jazz pianist.
Benjamin’s work has been performed internationally, broadcast on BBC Radio 3, recorded and released by labels including Linn, Prima Facie and Coviello Contemporary, and twice selected by scorefollower. Loop Concerto (2017) was nominated in the Contemporary Jazz category of the British Composer Awards 2017, Drip Feeder (2022) was shortlisted for the British section for the ISCM World New Music Days Festival 2024 and VENT (2024) was nominated for the best Community and Participation Composition in the Ivors Classical Awards 2025. Birmingham Record Company (distributed by NMC) released his debut portrait CD – TOO MANY SWEETS – in April 2024.
More than seventy of his works have been performed by performers including Ensemble Paramirabo (Canada), London Sinfonietta, Yshani Perinpanayagam, Dorothy Chan (USA), Riot Ensemble, Elizabeth Kenny, Ivo Neame, Laefer Quartet, BBC Singers, Myanmar Jazz Club and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He often collaborates with practitioners from other artforms such as poet Luke Wright (The Driver), theatre-maker Rachel Warr, filmmaker and audiovisual artist Moe Myat May Zarchi (Myanmar) and with researchers outside music.
Ben has undertaken a wide range of conducting with youth and professional ensembles including Workers Union Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Performing Arts Collaboration South and Kent County Youth Orchestra.
Ben has taught a wider range of undergraduate modules in composition, ensemble performance, conducting and community music as well as supervising composition MMus portfolios and PhD projects.
Ben was co-lead for the AHRC Hub for Public Engagement with Music Research (2024-2026), hosted at Southampton's Centre for Music Education and Social Justice.