Benjamin Staern (b. 1978) is widely regarded as one of the leading Scandinavian composers of his generation. He made an early breakthrough with The Threat of War (1999), written while still a student at the Malmö Academy of Music, where he studied composition with Rolf Martinsson, Hans Gefors, and Luca Francesconi.

Staern’s music is marked by a strongly individual voice shaped by synaesthesia—his neurological ability to associate sounds with colors. This perceptual phenomenon plays a central role in his compositional thinking, influencing both his sonic imagination and the evocative titles of his works, such as Yellow Skies and Colour Wandering.

His output spans orchestral, chamber, solo, and electroacoustic music, with orchestral writing forming a particular focus. Major works include Jubilate (2009), Godai – Concerto for Orchestra (2013), Polar Vortex (2014), and Symphony No. 2 – Through Purgatory to Paradise (2022). His Clarinet Concerto – Worried Souls (2011) was awarded the prestigious Christ Johnson Prize. From 2010 to 2014, Staern served as composer-in-residence with the New European Ensemble, resulting in widely performed works such as Bells and Waves and the multimedia project SAIYAH.

Alongside his orchestral output, Staern has gained significant recognition as an opera composer. His opera The Snow Queen premiered to critical acclaim at Malmö Opera in 2016 and has since been staged in Germany and at the Royal Swedish Opera. Other stage works include Hilma (2018), later performed at the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

Staern has collaborated with leading soloists including Håkan Hardenberger and Karin Dornbusch, and with conductors such as Sakari Oramo, Christian Karlsen, Cathrine Winnes, and Leif Segerstam. His music has been performed by major Swedish and international orchestras, among them the MDR Sinfonieorchester, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. From 2024 to 2026, he is artistic partner with the Västerås Sinfonietta, with forthcoming premieres including Dancing Fairies (flute concerto) for Laura Michelin and a new double concerto for Malin Broman and Simon Crawford-Phillips.

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Updated January 2026