Ben Lunn stands out both for his drive to use his craft as a force for good, but also in the way he connects with people through his craft and his efforts to champion others. His music often reflects the material world around him, connecting to his North-East roots, reflecting on issues of class or disability, or drawing attention to socio-political struggles both at home and abroad.

Ben first came to the fore through his multi-award winning concerts with Hebrides Ensemble and Drake Music Scotland. The three concerts, Diversions, Echoes, and Making Waves showcased Disabled composers, many of whom had received their first commission through the events. Ben has shown his unique curatorial approach in multiple other settings, including in his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the award-winning Call of the Mountains with Eegeru Ensemble (Kazakhstan), or the album Letting the Light in with NMC Recordings, which was the worlds first album dedicated to disabled composers. Alongside this, Ben Lunn’s collaboration with pianist Nicholas McCarthy led to the production of the first concerto for left-hand piano for a Disabled performer by a Disabled composer.

The history, identity, and contemporary circumstance of the North-East is a constant source of inspiration for Ben, who is always eager to elevate and celebrate his home. This has resulted in some of Ben’s favourite projects and works, including his Symphony for me Marras which was commissioned by Durham Brass Festival, Durham Diptych for the Durham Miners’ Association Band, and ANNA MARRA MISSA for Rosalind Dobson and Royal Northern Sinfonia which is based upon the epic poem, of the same name, by Sunderland-born poet William Martin.

Ben’s work has also drawn inspiration from many elements across the globe, all with the hope of using his music for the good of others. This has included works like Music for Mick, written for Orkest De Ereprijs as part of the prize commission, Three European Concerns, written for Ensemble Proton Bern, his String Trio, which was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society, and String Quartet no. 2 ‘The Tyrant’s might is passing’ which was composed for Sound Festival and the Edinburgh Quartet.

Conducting plays a greater, and greater prevalence within Ben’s creative practice. He stands out as a rare voice performing works by Disabled composers internationally. But Ben’s conducting also includes celebration of Eastern European composers, and since Autumn 2025, Ben has been the Artistic Director of Capella Slavonica, Scotland’s sole choir dedicated to performing works by Eastern European composers.

Alongside this work, Ben Lunn is an active proponent campaigning to make the arts more equitable. This has included writing policy documents like What we need to thrive or Concerts from my point of view, which both show how to make the professional world more accessible for Disabled people, as well as improving the concert experience; founding the Disabled Artist Network in 2021 which proactively helps Disabled people in the arts; and he is also on the board of Sonic Bothy, the Association of British Orchestras, and Hebrides Ensemble.  

The unique, and varied, approach of Ben’s creative practice makes him a rare voice in classical music today. This conscious and committed approach has made his collaborative work and compositional voice unlike his peers. He not only elevates the music of underrepresented groups, but also makes his music speak to more than the typical concert hall audience.