Ben Lunn

Ben is one of eight composers selected for a place on the 2023 RPS Composers programme. This will culminate in him writing a new piece, commissioned by the RPS, for Music in the Round.

On this page, Ben introduces himself in his own words, and shares links to his music, his website, and his social media platforms. We warmly invite programmers and commissioners to take a closer look at Ben's work, and please be in touch with us if you would like to connect with him.

About Ben

'I am Ben Lunn, a Mackem (from Sunderland, as opposed to the Geordies in Newcastle) composer and conductor. My musical journey has been quite curious - firstly falling in love with music thanks to playing in brass bands then studying in Wales, then in Lithuania, and now living, working and studying in Scotland.

My work is preoccupied by class and by disability. This has resulted in composing works which reflect these concerns, programming concerts of solely disabled composers, and hosting events discussing class politics and music. It's also seen me getting stuck into the day-to-day struggle thanks to being an elected member of the Regional Committee for the Musicians' Union, EDI Committee of the Union, and Chair of the North Lanarkshire Trades Council.

In 2021 I founded the Disabled Artist Network which aims to bring disabled artists from numerous disciplines together and support them in their creative and professional work - be it helping with funding, making links, or just promoting the work they do.'

Highlights

  • Awarded the PRS 2022 Foundation's Composers' Fund which has allowed me to work on the Breotenrice Symphony, a large-scale work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra.
  • 2022 has seen works of mine performed by Ensemble Proton Bern (Switzerland), Orkest de Ereprijs (Holland), Piano Quartet Quadra (Latvia).
  • In July 2022 Durham Brass Festival hosted a concert purely of works by myself, performed by Lotte Betts-Dean, Grace Maria Wain, Lomond Brass, and SONO Ensemble in St. Cuthbert's Cathedral in Ushaw.
  • I won two awards at the 2020 Scottish Awards for New Music for my creation of Diversions, the largest concert of solely disabled composers, presented in an accessible and welcoming manner.
  • I have also had the pleasure of speaking and presenting my work all over the world (though some of it via Zoom) including Classical:NEXT Hannover, Jazep Vitols Music Academy Riga, UK-China Disability Arts Forum, and the Association of British Orchestras Conference.

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about Ben, hearing and keeping up to date with his work, take a look at his website and social media below:

The 2023 RPS Composers programme is made possible with support from RPS Members, Delius Trust, The Fidelio Charitable Trust, PRS Foundation's The Open Fund, the Radcliffe Trust, the Susan Bradshaw Composers' Fund, the Vaughan Williams Foundation and several anonymous donors.