Composer Ben Aldridge prides himself on writing artful music within an educational arena. His music educates and inspires. His music has been performed throughout North America, with recent performances at Boston's Symphony Hall, and the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Ben has written pieces for concert bands and a variety of chamber ensembles. Mr. Aldridge resides in Austin, Texas and works as owner/editor of AWM Publishing.

Born in Meriden, CT, Mr. Aldridge took an interest in music at a relatively early age, learning to play the saxophone in elementary school. There was always music in the house growing up, Charlie Aldridge, Ben's father was an avid listener, especially to jazz, and exposed Ben to music early on. Ben's middle school band director, Bill Duffney was a positive influence.

During High School, Ben played for the Maloney High School Band and Jazz Bands under the baton of Dominic Talotta. He studied private saxophone with Wayne Splettstoeszer and Tom Reynolds. It was in high school that Ben got his first taste of composition, arranging pieces for a jazz combo at Maloney.

At the University of Vermont, he earned degrees in both Music Education and Music theory, studying saxophone with Steve Klimowski, piano with Shari Fleming, and composition with T.L. Read. While at UVM, Ben began teaching at The Walden School, a summer composition program for students age 10-18.

Ben's first job out of college was as band director at Briscoe Middle School in Beverly, MA. It was at Briscoe that Ben realized that he needed to become a composer. He began arranging music for the bands at Briscoe and decided to study band composition.

Ben attended Central Michigan University from Septermber 2005 through May 2006, receiving a MM in music composition. At CMU he studied composition with David Gillingham and Jose-Luis Maurtua.

Ben taught High School Band in Hampden, Maine from 2006-2009, and then in the spring of 2009, Ben opened AWM Publishing.