Benjamin Payne

Originally from Conwy, North Wales, Ben is a musical director and copyist currently based in South London. He holds an MA in Musical Direction from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, which he earned after graduating with a first-class BA (Hons) in Music from the University of Liverpool.

Ben has a keen eye for detail, both in musical direction and in providing music services such as copying and preparation. To learn more about the services Ben offers, please use the links below.

As Musical Director:

Cinderella (Rhyl Pavilion)

Bloody Mary and the Nine-day Queen (Workshop)

A Band on Ilmoor’s Fields (Backstage Theatre, Mountview)

Aladdin (Rhyl Pavilion)

Imaginary: the Musical (Venue Cymru)

As Assistant Musical Director:

Bonnie & Clyde (Mountview in-house project)

Junkyard (Backstage Theatre, Mountview)

Pippin (Backstage Theatre, Mountview)

Matilda (Mountview in-house project)

As Music Assistant/Copyist:

The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical (The Other Palace)

King Ralph (Workshop)

Toys the Musical (Pump House Watford)

PTA the Musical (in development)

The Bourne Orchestra Live (Live at Loseley Park)

Other:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (UK Tour) - Audition Pianist

Musical Direction Credits

Music Services

Ben is an enthusiastic copyist who prides himself on his attention to detail and efficiency in creating beautiful scores and parts. With proficiency in both Sibelius and Dorico, Ben can tailor his music preparation to suit your specific needs. His commitment to quality ensures that every score is not only accurate but also aesthetically pleasing, making it suitable for performance and distribution. From large orchestral scores to minimalist rock band arrangements, lead sheets, and piano/vocal scores, Ben is committed to delivering accurate and polished results that meet your needs. Please get in touch if you need any of the services detailed below.

  • Proficient in both Sibelius and Dorico Pro 5, Ben has created custom templates in both modern and traditional serif styles, tailored to various productions. If you have a preferred template, he can easily import and work with it, ensuring consistency in your sheet music.

    Ben will create professional-looking parts that you can review and customise through consultations to meet your specific needs.

  • Whether you need specific arrangements for underscoring, dance breaks, or vocal arrangements, Ben will collaborate with you to adapt the music to your project’s style and needs.

    Ben also has extensive experience reducing orchestral scores to suit smaller ensembles. If your project requires a reduced orchestration or any other reduction service, Ben will work with you to streamline the orchestration while preserving the desired sound.

  • Ben can transpose any score, whether for a full orchestra or a single instrument or voice, to any key you need. If you're unsure of the key, he can offer multiple options to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

    If you need notes entered digitally for use as MIDI or any other purpose, Ben can handle this efficiently.

  • Based in London, Ben is available for in-person copyist work across the UK. He aims to build a collaborative relationship with you and your production team, providing on-demand services as needed.

  • For an additional cost, Ben can print and bind music to your specifications, giving it a polished, custom look.

Backing/Click Tracks

From note-bashing and piano tracks to fully developed backing or click tracks, Ben offers high-quality custom tracks at an affordable price, perfect for self-tapes or productions. All tracks are created using top-tier samples in Logic Pro, with the option to use Ableton for more complex projects.

Clients must provide sheet music with defined cuts and tempos, which can be tailored later. If you need assistance with this, Ben is happy to help.

Services Ben offers include:

  • Note-bash tracks for melodies and/or harmonies

  • Piano tracks for personal use

  • High-quality piano tracks for self-tapes and rehearsals

  • Click tracks with various instrument lines to support live musicians

  • Backing tracks based on pre-existing orchestrations

  • Custom backing tracks (flexible in genre and instrumentation)

For more information or to request any of these services, please get in touch below!

Sample piano tracks:

Sample backing tracks:

Keyboard Programming

Ben also offers custom keyboard programming using MainStage. All you need is a MacBook running MainStage, a USB type B to C/MIDI cable and a compatible keyboard to act as a remote. He will handle all the technical aspects to ensure you can simply turn up and play.

If you're performing a licensed show, you'll need to provide proof of this before renting the programming. For original works, the programming is yours to keep for an upfront fee.

Ben provides technical support and customisation of the programming to meet your specific needs.

He can also program Kurzweil keyboards. If you require this service, please get in touch to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Contact

For services regarding musical direction or any of the listed music services, please get in touch via the form below. Alternatively, links to Ben’s social media platforms can be found below.