London Philharmonic Orchestra names composer-in-residence

The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) today announces that its next Composer-in-Residence, the renowned British composer Sir George Benjamin, will succeed Tania León in September 2025.

As composer-in-residence, Benjamin will participate in rehearsals and performances of his music and, in 2025-26, will conduct an LPO concert featuring one of his compositions and help oversee a landmark 20th intake on the LPO Young Composers programme. Benjamin will be involved in participant selection and the creation of the brief for the year as well as offering mentoring and feedback and helping prepare the final Debut Sounds concert each year.

Benjamin said: ‘What a delight it was for me to hear the LPO give a terrific performance of Sudden Time – a piece of mine which they premiered in 1993 – under Edward Gardner at the Royal Festival Hall a couple of years ago. I now hugely look forward to collaborating with this illustrious orchestra and their wonderful Principal Conductor over the seasons ahead, as well as playing a role in their renowned Young Composers programme.’

Born in 1960, Benjamin studied with Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatoire and with Alexander Goehr at King’s College, Cambridge. His early work Ringed by the Flat Horizon was performed at the 1980 BBC Proms when he was 20, and his most recent opera, Picture a day like this, premiered at the 2023 Aix-en-Provence Festival.

Her has held the role of Henry Purcell Professor of Composition at King’s College London since 2001, and received a knighthood in 2017 and the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 2023.