About
Ben Palmer is one of the world’s foremost film-with-orchestra and film music conductors, in demand in concert halls and recording studios across the globe. Acclaimed by Hans Zimmer as “a masterclass in conducting”, and personally authorised by John Williams to conduct his film scores live in concert, he has a repertoire of more than 60 films, spanning the entire history of film, from silent movies of the 1920s to blockbusters of the present day. He has conducted performances for composers such as Howard Shore and Michael Giacchino, and recorded for clients including Zimmer, Bleeding Fingers Music, the London Symphony Orchestra, Studiocanal and 20th Century Fox. He is Artistic Director of Covent Garden Sinfonia, and Chief Conductor of Babylon Orchester Berlin and the Orchestra da Camera di Pordenone. From 2017-24 he was Chief Conductor of the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck, ending his tenure with three performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8.
As a guest conductor, he works regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, 21st Century Orchestra, and the five BBC Orchestras. Other guest conducting engagements include the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Hallé, Hong Kong Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Oakland Symphony, the Philharmonia, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Sinfonietta Riga, and Zurich Chamber Orchestra. In 2022 he made his debut at the BBC Proms in a televised concert with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with whom he also appeared in Seoul at BBC Proms Korea. Forthcoming debuts include Luxembourg Philharmonic, Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National de Bretagne, and the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France. He has recorded classical albums for labels including Sony and Decca, with orchestras such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, City of Prague Philharmonic, NDR Radiophilharmonie, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
He trained as a composer and trumpeter, studying at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Academy of Music, which elected him an associate (ARAM) in 2017. He twice worked as rehearsal conductor for Bernard Haitink, and from 2011-16 was assistant conductor to Sir Roger Norrington. He continues to be sought after as a composer, arranger and orchestrator, most notably for Sony Classical.
