Benjamin Goodwin (b. 2006) is a composer who grew up with a background in music theory and piano, beginning to write music at age eleven. Just before graduation from his elementary school in 2018, he premiered his first complete composition, Ode to Santa Cruz Children’s School for solo piano. The following year, he began to write chamber music under the instruction of Chris Pratorius, with his first string quartet being read by members of the Santa Cruz Symphony. By his senior year of high school, he wrote The Middle of Nowhere for his Youth Symphony, which premiered in November of 2023. Each summer since 2023, he has co-directed the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music’s Youth Ensemble program, mentoring young composers and writing music alongside them. In November 2025, Benjamin had his first professional orchestral premiere, where Voices was played by the Santa Cruz Symphony, conducted by Daniel Stewart. His compositions frequently take inspiration from video game soundtracks and Celtic music, two of his favorite genres.

Outside of classical composition, he has no shortage of musical interests. He plays violin, and was concertmaster of the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony for his last two years with them. Since he enjoys video game music, especially that from indie games, he has transcribed over one hundred tracks, orchestrated one which was played at Oberlin Conservatory, and has experience working with a DAW. He also participates in musical theater, having orchestrated the music for two musicals, played in the pit orchestra of four, and conducted one. Because of his interest in Celtic music, he regularly attends the Community Music School of Santa Cruz’s camps and events.

Benjamin currently attends the Oberlin Conservatory as a composition major, studying with Jesse Jones, Michael Frazier, Stephen Hartke, and Soomin Kim.