Roman Benedict

Roman Benedict is a composer, arranger and concert producer based in Sydney.

Growing up in a family of musicians, Roman was woken most mornings either by the sound of practising or of student lessons, and grew up knowing that music is something made by people.

Intentionally eclectic, his music is suffused with warmth and playfulness and moves across forms and genres.

Roman released his first album of string quartets, Dusk and Dawn, in 2015, a second solo piano album, Music to Ignore in 2020, and in 2021 released a single – Foghorn Lullabies. Tracks from these projects were playlisted by the BBC and soundtracked popular podcasts such as Beef and Dairy Network. His next album, Half-remembered Dances, is being released in 2025.

His compositions have been performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, and The Hallé and he has been awarded by FineMusic/Willoughby Symphony Concerto Composition, the ANZVS Composition Competition, and Ars Musica Australis.

I can see what you’re doing Roman, I’m on to you” – Benjamin Northey, SSO Conductor in residence, on stage during a concert at Sydney Town Hall

Roman has worked with, for, and nearby some of the biggest names in classical music and musical theatre. An experienced collaborator, he has written songs for musicals and composed scores for stage productions, as well as assisting other composers in bringing their music to life.

Often unknown to audiences, much of his music is produced behind the scenes, as a busy arranger for orchestras including The Hallé, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, and training ensembles, and as a music copyist and score preparer for Brenda Gifford, Stephen Warbeck, James Fortune, the BBC, Musica Viva Australia and ensembles across Australia and internationally, on projects ranging from small chamber works and educational projects to major musical theatre scores and full symphonic concert programs.

As a concert stage manager, producer and production manager he works on more than 200 performances a year. He has produced concerts for groups in the UK and Australia including the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Offspring. He worked in the Music Department on the National Theatre for 4 years before returning to Australia, working on plays and musicals including Hadestown, Follies and The Lehman Trilogy. While there projects included fixing drums on staging ten metres in the air and recreating a vintage trombone kazoo mute.

Roman studied at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the University of Sydney, with teachers including Matthew Hindson, Julian Anderson and Julian Philips. He was a member of the London musical theatre development group Book Music & Lyrics.

He plays a 1950s Italian accordion that he found by a bin, until the neighbours complain.