George Benjamin

Professor Sir George Benjamin is the Henry Purcell Professor of Composition at King's College London's Department of Music within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Born in 1960, he studied piano and composition at the Paris Conservatoire under Olivier Messiaen and later at King's College Cambridge under Alexander Goehr. His career spans over four decades, marked by orchestral and operatic works performed globally.

Research interests focus on composition, particularly opera collaborations with Martin Crimp, including Into the Little Hill, Written on Skin, and Lessons in Love and Violence. He conducts major orchestras and has received prestigious awards: Knight Bachelor (2017), Commandeur des Arts et Lettres, and the Leone d’Oro (2019-20).

His articles reflect a blend of contemporary techniques and classical forms. Recent operas emphasize narrative depth and orchestral innovation. His Written on Skin (2012) and Lessons in Love and Violence (2018) are landmarks in modern opera. Publications include scholarly essays and interviews analyzing compositional processes.

• Scientific Awards: Knight Bachelor, Commandeur des Arts et Lettres, Leone d’Oro.
• Advising: Supervises PhD students in composition. No grants explicitly detailed, but his operas have received international productions and broadcasts.