Ed Bennett (born 15 March 1975) is a

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

of contemporary art music.

Biography

Bennett was born in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Having studied with Brian Irvine at North Down College and with

Michael Finnissy Michael Peter Finnissy (born 17 March 1946) is an English composer, pianist, and pedagogue. An immensely prolific composer, his music is "notable for its dramatic urgency and expressive immediacy". Although he rejects the label, he is often r ...

at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, Bennett states that "Striving for perfection leads me to boredom. I like to be surprised by music, staying on the outside of things and occasionally dipping in and taking what I need to try to create something new." He has also worked with

Heiner Goebbels Heiner Goebbels (born 17 August 1952) is a German composer, conductor and professor at Justus-Liebig-University in Gießen and artistic director of the International Festival of the Arts Ruhrtriennale 2012–14. His composition ''Stifters Dinge ...

during his residency in Birmingham Conservatoire. In 2007 he was a finalist in the British Composer Awards. He has had works performed by

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...

, BBC, Moving on Music,

2012 Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

, PRSF, Music Network, Integra and the arts councils of England, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Bennett's work has been commissioned and performed internationally by many different artists, organisations and ensembles including the PRSF, BBC,

, Moving on Music, Music Network and the arts councils of Ireland, Northern Ireland and England. Listed among the collaborators and performers of his work are RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Ulster Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra,

National Orchestra of Belgium The Belgian National Orchestra ( nl, Nationaal Orkest van België, french: Orchestre National de Belgique) is a Belgian orchestra, based in Brussels. Its principal concert venue is the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar). The orchestra also gi ...

, London Sinfonietta, Concorde,

Fidelio Trio ''Fidelio'' (; ), originally titled ' (''Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Love''), Op. 72, is Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera. The German libretto was originally prepared by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, wi ...

Berlin Percussion Ensemble Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, as measured by population within city limits having gained this status a ...

Smith Quartet The Smith Quartet is a UK based string quartet founded in 1988 that specializes in the performance of contemporary classical music, and is actively performing worldwide and recording . They have premiered over 100 works by composers such as Ke ...

, Crash Ensemble, Orkest de ereprijs,

Ensemble SurPlus Ensemble may refer to: Art * Architectural ensemble * ''Ensemble'' (album), Kendji Girac 2015 album * Ensemble (band), a project of Olivier Alary * Ensemble cast (drama, comedy) * Ensemble (musical theatre), also known as the chorus * ''Ensem ...

, Lontano, Noszferatu,

Ensemble Ars Nova The ensemble Ars nova (founded 1963) is a French contemporary music instrumental chamber ensemble. It was founded by Marius Constant.François Madurell L'ensemble Ars Nova: Une contribution au pluralisme esthétique ...- 2003 "L'Ensemble Ars nova, ...

Garth Knox Garth Knox (born 8 October 1956 in Dublin, Ireland) is a violist and composer who specializes in contemporary classical music and new music. Biography Knox was the youngest of four siblings, and although he was born in Ireland, he was raised in S ...

, Pedro Carneiro, Reinbert de Leeuw, James MacMillan,

Darragh Morgan Darragh Morgan (Belfast, 1974) is an Irish violinist. Darragh has established himself as a soloist of new music giving numerous recitals aSonorities Festival, as well as in Prague, Malta, Nicosia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy, Switzerl ...

, Mary Dullea,

Rolf Hind Rolf Hind (born 1964 in London) is a British pianist and composer. He studied at the Royal College of Music in London and at the University of California, Los Angeles. Biography Rolf Hind was born in London to a German mother and an English fa ...

, Paul Dunmall and

. He also performs with and directs his own ensemble, Decibel. In 2012 he was awarded the

Philip Leverhulme Prize The Philip Leverhulme Prize is awarded by the Leverhulme Trust to recognise the achievement of outstanding researchers whose work has already attracted international recognition and whose future career is exceptionally promising. The prize schem ...

for the

Performing Arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perform ...

. In the same year, he was commissioned to write a piece for the Northern Irish "Opera Shorts" series, which was performed in Belfast and in London as part of the Olympics Festival. It was credited in ''The Irish Times'' as being a memorable highlight and was mentioned in ''The Guardian'' for its playfulness."NI Opera Shorts – review", ''The Guardian'', 8 July 2012
retrieved 16 August 2012. He is currently at Birmingham Conservatoire where he is the recipient of a research fellowship and active as a teacher in the composition department.

Discography

Dzama Stories
– Music influenced by artist

Marcel Dzama Marcel Dzama (born May 4, 1974) is a contemporary artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who currently lives and works in New York City. His work has been exhibited internationally, in particular his ink and watercolor drawings. Education Dzama r ...

, Quartz
My Broken Machines – NMC Recordings

Togetherness – Diatribe Records

Contemporary Music from Ireland, Volume 10
– An appearance on the best of Irish composers' of Northern Ireland
Between
– Diatribe Recordings
Music From Northern Ireland
– Lontano Records

References

External links

Ed Bennett's official websiteEd Bennett works available at Composers EditionEd Bennett at Contemporary Music Centre IrelandEd Bennett on Association of Irish ComposersListen to Ed Bennett's Ausland on BBC's Hear And Now
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Ed 1975 births 21st-century classical composers from Northern Ireland Academics of Birmingham City University Male composers from Northern Ireland Living people Male classical composers from Northern Ireland Musicians from County Down People from Bangor, County Down 21st-century composers from Northern Ireland