“Robinson composes
with fun and fury.”
– Limelight
I write punchy classical music driven by momentum. From solo instruments to symphony orchestras, my music channels the speed and intensity of contemporary Australia in our increasingly digital existence.
Through this lens, I explore the relation between chaos and beauty, creating music that is equal parts thrilling, playful and reflective.
Ben Robinson composes music with a bold, agile edge. Spanning chamber and orchestral repertoire, his work gives form to uniquely contemporary experiences and the beautiful messiness of life.
His fiery compositional style has earned commissions from the likes of the Sydney Opera House, the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), the Australia Ensemble, Ensemble Apex, and Omega Ensemble.
In 2026 his Clarinet Concertino: Second Chance was a finalist in the Art Music Awards for Work of the Year: Large Ensemble.
In the same year he completed his first string quartet for Melbourne ensemble Penny Quartet. Building the project from the ground up, together they raised funds to produce a studio recording for release in early 2027.
In 2027 he will write for the Australia Ensemble as the Layton Emerging Composer Fellow.
As an arranger, Robinson brings Australian artists into classical spaces. He has reimagined pop-rock band Lime Cordiale’s music for a national tour with all six of Australia's state symphony orchestras, and arranged material for First Nations singer-songwriter Jess Hitchcock’s national Musica Viva Australia tour with Penny Quartet.
A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Robinson has since honed his craft through creative opportunities including the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra's Australian Composers' School and Omega Ensemble's CoLAB program.
Ben Robinson is an associate artist of the Australian Music Centre.
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Premiere: String Quartet
The culmination of substantial fundraising and creative development, Penny Quartet will premiere String Quartet No. 1: The Lure on 19 November 2026. Thanks to the generosity of Phoenix Central Park, tickets are free and available exclusively via ballot. This premiere will be followed by a studio release in early 2027.
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Finalist: 2026 Art Music Awards
Clarinet Concertino: Second Chance is a finalist in the 2026 Art Music Awards for Work of the Year: Large Ensemble, marking a significant career milestone. The annual ceremony celebrates the creators, performers and organisations shaping Australia’s vibrant art music landscape.
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Recording: Clarinet Concertino
Composed for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s brilliant second clarinettist Eloise Fisher, Clarinet Concertino: Second Chance grew from a shared experience of being the underdog. With humour and flair, this 12-minute showpiece pushes back against that idea. It marks the culmination of the two-year Australian Composers’ School program.
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Arrangement: Lime Cordiale
A new arrangement for Aussie band Lime Cordiale live with symphony orchestra. Performing alongside the Sydney, Melbourne, West Australian, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Lime Cordiale closed each set of their national tour with this orchestral adaptation of their hit track Inappropriate Behaviour.
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Virtual scores now available
A new collection of score videos is now available for streaming online. If you are interested in purchasing or commissioning a score, or if you would simply like to explore the repertoire, you can discover both new and old works while delving into the music in greater detail.
