Ben Shirley

Born and raised in Berlin, San Francisco, and Texas, Ben Shirley is an accomplished concert composer, film composer, orchestrator for film & television, and musician. His clarinet quintet, “High Sierra Sonata” is featured on the 2024 GRAMMY® AWARD nominated American Stories album.

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 26 months, Ben returned to school, earned a scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and began a new life as a concert and film composer.