Benton Roark

The music of composer Benton Roark (he/him) has been described as “visionary” (The Vancouver Sun), “ardent and soaring” (The National Post), and “an experience of deep and darkling beauty” (The Austin Chronicle). In recent years much of his work has focused on new opera, with full productions including Tapestry Opera’s Augmented Opera (“gorgeous Straussian vocal writing,” The Globe and Mail) and Bandits in the Valley (Dora Mavor Moore award nominee, 2018), Vancouver Pro Musica/Tomoe Arts’ Shadow Catch (“an evocative score” The Bulletin), and Fugue Theatre’s Off Leash (“one of the most unique theatrical experiences currently on Vancouver stages” Vancity Buzz). Roark has also enjoyed acclaim as a bandleader and songwriter with projects such as The Benton Roark Band, Rollaway (“backwoods choir elegance” The Georgia Straight), and Arkora (“the standout event of Vancouver’s spring music season” Vancouver Observer), whose Songs from the Rainshadow’s Edge earned him a 2016 WCMA nomination for Composition of the Year. Current projects include new opera work slated for premiere at the Chan Centre in November 2024 (Eurydice Fragments, re:Naissance Opera), and recording projects The Sign of Jonas (Mother Country, Laughing Heart Records), and Transfigured Light (Arkora, Redshift Records). Roark holds a D.M.A. from the University of British Columbia and has served as Associate Artistic Director of Redshift Music Society and Sound Symposium. He currently serves as Artistic Director of Arkora and makes his home in Toronto. 

Photo by Joey Woolridge