Ben Shirley
Composer | Orchestration for Film & Television | Musician
“High Sierra Sonata” on the 2024 GRAMMY® Award nominated American Stories record.
Worthington Chamber Orchestra announces Ben Shirley as Composer-in-Residence for 2025 & 2026 seasons
Born and raised in Berlin, San Francisco, and Texas, Ben Shirley is an accomplished concert composer, film composer, orchestrator, and musician whose unusual musical trajectory informs his music. A bassist for 25+ years, Ben was previously signed to Epic Records in bands with radio singles charting in the top 5. Addiction drove him into homelessness in 2011.
While living at the Midnight Mission, a shelter in Los Angeles’ notorious Skid Row for 2+ years, Ben returned to school and earned a scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Today, his clarinet quintet, “High Sierra Sonata” is featured on the 2024 GRAMMY® Award nominated American Stories album, recorded by Pacifica Quartet & New York Philharmonic Principal Clarinetist Anthony McGill.
Additional recent achievements include Best Original Score for Dr. West’s Fervor - a multi-award winning short film.
He served as orchestrator for the 2021 Oscar® Qualified and multi-award winning animated short film, “Umbrella”.
“Shirley has a keen ear for harmony and instrumental color.”
-Alex Ross, The New Yorker