Ben Shirley
Composer | Orchestration for Film & Television | Musician
“High Sierra Sonata” on the 2024 GRAMMY® Award nominated American Stories record.
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