Violinist

Ben Mowat

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About Ben

Music selected especially for you and your event!
Violinist
Bristol
Public liability insurance of £10 million

Ben is a professional violinist based in Bristol. Alongside his performance work he is also a composer, producer and teacher. Ben has a high level experience over several genres and specialises in create the perfect set list for your event! With a passion for great music that fits the brief, Ben has a background in classical, pop and Bollywood covers, jazz, celtic folk, tango, and klezmer. As well as a more standard wedding repertoire, Ben can also bring his work in experimental and electronic music into his performance, if desired. He is a loop pedal performer, and can improvise beautiful layers of violin and synths with beatboxing to create atmospheric and at times party dance music! From the age of 7 Ben studied violin under renowned Oxford violin tutor Steward Attwood. During his degree in Popular & World Music at Leeds University, he took advanced violin technique and jazz lessons from the UK's leading jazz violinist, Omar Puente (who plays with UK saxophonist Courtney Pine), graduating in 2006. Since then Ben has performed and toured with many bands and ensembles including his own classical-folk-triphop crossover act, The String Project (2011 - 2017). He also performed with Bristol's Celtic Celidh band Fitty Go-Mash in their early days, Folk rock band Lucky Jim (touring the Isle of Man TT Races for several years), jazz/blues band I've Got My JoMo Working and live drum 'n bass band Phil Oakley & The Allstars. Ben has also performed at Tango dance evenings. In 2014, 15 and 16, Ben toured each summer with Cristal Bal puppet theatre in Toulouse & the Pyrenees region and he also works with Bristol Based circus company Circobatica, creating live and recorded instrumental hip-hop. Ben is a regular attender of Bristol Klezmer folk sessions. In classical music Ben has played with a variety of university and semi-professional orchestras both in Oxford, Bristol and Grenoble. As well as violin performance Ben Mowat now composes music for film, TV and media, in a broad spectrum of genres from classical to popular, including music for choir, string quartet, orchestral and electronic. He has a Distinction for his MA in Composition for Film & TV (Bristol University). Ben Mowat currently works with Murmuration Choir both as chef score creator for their original arrangements and Event Manager for the choirs medium to large scale, collaborative concerts and gigs.

Ben
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5 out of 5
14 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Ben's Reviews

From Encore customers:

AD
Andrew D
4 months ago
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5 out of 5

Ben was awesome. Nailed everything and was super for the whole piece of our wedding. Would def recommend. Thanks Ben!!

Reply from Ben
4 months ago

Thanks so much Andrew it was a pleasure to play for you guys :-) All the best!

GL
Georgia L
5 months ago
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5 out of 5

I don’t think words are enough to describe how stunningly beautiful Ben plays and how his music can bring so much joy to people. Ben was nothing but perfection from the start, friendly, helpful and so accommodating. During our ceremony he played what was agreed and had me and my family in tears. During the reception he had my niece twirling and bouncing around. So many guest commented on just how wonderful he was. I can not recommend highly him enough,And can not put into works thankful I am. You really did make it magical!

Reply from Ben
5 months ago

Thank you so much for the booking and glad you all enjoyed the music so much :-)

LO
Luke O
8 months ago
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5 out of 5

Ben was everything we expected and more. Despite of the weather, the show went on and Ben lifted everyone’s spirits. Some of the best moments of our wedding was singing along outside under a pavilions whilst it was raining. He is a beautiful violinist, very professional and would 100% recommend to anyone. Thanks again Ben!

Reply from Ben
8 months ago

Thanks so much for your review! All the best

AL
Aaron L
9 months ago
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5 out of 5

Absolutely brilliant, couldn't recomend Ben any more. Arrived early to our wedding venue, knew what songs to play and added the perfect filler songs when required. Also, played at our reception for everyone arriving! Fantastic

Reply from Ben
9 months ago

Thank you Aaron and Catherine and congratulations again! I enjoyed playing for you and glad you enjoyed it too :-) All the best,

Read all 13 reviews

From other customers:

SH
Sarah H
7 years ago, for a Wedding in Weir Ln
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5 out of 5

We would highly recommend Ben. He played three pieces of music for our wedding ceremony. He was incredibly helpful beforehand when choosing the music - he understood what we wanted, made suggestions (including sending us links and playing us pieces in person) and listened to our suggestions. We were very happy with the final mix of things we'd chosen and his suggestions. Communication was good and he arrived early on the day to set up so we didn't have to worry about anything. And the music itself was beautiful. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house! Friendly, professional and very talented.

KA
Kevin J
6 years ago

Ben was flexible and responsive to our requests, he incorporated our request into his set and we loved his performance. It helped to make our day special.

From other musicians:

30 September 2015

I have worked with Ben's group, The String Project, for the last 4 years. He is a highly gifted and original composer, a versatile and engaging performer and a more than capable improviser. It is a pleasure to continue to work with him!

Encore badges
25 gigs
Pro: 25 bookings through Encore
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
8th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years
Member of the Encore community forum

Ben's Song list

CLASSICAL:
Air on the G String - Bach
Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod
Ave Maria - Schubert
Cannon in D - Pachelbel
Wedding March - Mendelssohn
Bridal Chorus - Wagner
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach
Ode to Joy - Beethoven
Mediation - Jules Massenent
Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
Meditation - Massenet
Partitas and Sonatas - Bach
Hungarian Dance #5 - Brahms
Romantic Pieces (No.1) - Dvorak
Ladies in Lavender - Hess
Salut d'Amour - Handle
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handle
Clair de Lune - Debussy
Double Violin Concerto - Bach
Quartet 2004 - Mowat
6 Is The Magic Number - Mowat
Rondeau (from Abdelazar) - Purcell
Humouresque - Dvorak
Canon - Cesar Franck
O, For the Wings of a Dove - Felix Mendelssohn
Dance of the Blessed Spirits - Christopher Gluck
Romance (from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) - Mozart
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (1st movement) - Mozart
Waltz (from Serenade for Strings) - Tchaikovsky
Espana - Emmanuel Charbrier
Traumerei (Dreaming) - Robert Schumann
On Wings of Song - Felix Mendelssohn
POP (other specific types further below:
Can't Help Falling In Love With You - Elvis
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
You Are The Reason - Calum Scott
Dancing on My Own - Calum Scott / Robyn
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Lucky - Jason Mraz
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Best Day of My Life - American Authors
I Don't Want to Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
Whitney Houston - I will always love
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Chandelier - Sia
All About You - McFly
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Samuel Beam
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Eye of The Tiger (Theme from Rocky III)
Rolling In The Deep - Adele
She's Always A Woman - Billy Joel
ED SHEERAN:
Shape of You
Thinking Out Loud
Perfect
Photograph
Galway Girl
COLDPLAY:
Yellow
The Scientist
Paradise
Viva la Vida
BRIDGETON STYLE:
Material Girl - Madonna
Wildest Dreams - Taylor Swift
Wrecking Ball
Dancing on My Own
SINGER SONGWRITER:
Make You Feel My Love - Adele / Bob Dylan
How Long Will I Love You - Elli Golding
Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
Blowing in the Wind - Bob Dylan
SOUL, MOWTOWN, FUNK, RnB:
Killing Me Softly - Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel/Roberta Flack/Fugees
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Take Me To The River - Al Green
Get Lucky - Pharell Williams
Happy - Pharell Williams
Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson
It Takes Two - Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
The Logical Song - Supertramp
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Green Onions - Booker T. And The MG's
Get The Sweetest Feeling - Jackie Wilson
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
I Say A Little Prayer For You - Dionne Warwick
In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band
Private Number William Bell
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Soul Man - Sam And Dave
Stand By Me - Ben E King
Walkin' The Dog - Rufus Thomas
Who's Making Love - Johnnie Taylor
REGGAE & SKA:
Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
One Love - Bob Marley
Madness
The Specials
Lee Scratch Perry
The Upsetters - Liquidator
Toots and the Maytals
ANYTHING BY:
Radiohead
Shakira
Portishead
Lauren Hill
SHAKIRA:
Hips Don't Lie
ALICIA KEYS:
Fallin'
No One
Girl On Fire
LINDSEY STIRLING STYLE (violin) COVERS:
All of Me
Don't You Worry Child
Fix You
Good Feeling
My Immortal
Pokemon Theme
Radio Active
Star Wars Medley
MORE ROCK:
Intro by The XX
Roxanne - Sting
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere
Anything else by Fleetwood Mac
Time - Pink Floyd (loop pedal cover)
The Final Countdown
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf
DAVID BOWIE:
Life on Mars
Under Pressure (Queen and Bowie)
Ziggi Stardust
ERIC CLAPTON:
Wonderful Tonight
Layla
Tears in Heaven
BEATLES:
All You Need Is Love
Blackbird
Hey Jude
Let It Be
Love Me Do
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
With A Little Help From My Friends
Yesterday
Ticket To Ride
BOLLYWOOD and HINDI SONGS:
Pee Loon
Dil Ko Karar Aaya
Kudi Na Nachen De
WESTERN FILM MUSIC:
The Bear Necessities (The Jungle Book)
A Tale As Old As Time (Beauty and the Beast)
Jurassic Park Theme
Turning page by Sleeping At Last (Twilight)
Schindler’s List Theme
CELTIC FOLK:
IRISH:
Danny Boy
The Wind That Shakes The Barley
Drowsy Maggie
Lanigan's Ball
Red Haired Boy
The Bridal
The Peeler's Away with My Daughter
The Fox Hunter's Jig
Harvest Home
Carolan's Air
The Mason's Apron
ENGLISH:
Hunting the Hare
The Fairy Dance & Original by Ben Mowat
Morpeth Rant
Constant Billy
The Keel Roa
Country Gardens
The Staffordshire Hornpipe
The Girl I Left Behind Me
King of the Faries
The Trumpet Hornpipe
SCOTTISH:
Flower of Scotland
The Bonny Lass o' Five
Brochan Lom
Mrs Jamieson's Favourite
Lord MacDonald's Reel
The Flowers of Edinburgh
Miss Sally Hunter of Thurston
Mary, Young and Fair
The Gay Gordons
The Spey in Spate
Earl Grey
MANX:
Manx Lullaby
TANGO & MILONGA:
La Cumpasita
El Entrerriano
Por Una Cabeza
El Choclo
Comme il Faut
Hasta El Día Del Regreso
El Petirrojo
Hijo De La Luna
La Belgique
Suerte Negra
Más o Menos
Tango - Isaac Albeniz
ARGENTINE FOLK MUSIC (Chacareras, Chamamés etc):
La Alabanza
El Río Dulce
El Violín De Gaucho
La Pollona
Chamamé del Jacarandá
LATIN JAZZ:
Quizas, quizas, quizas (Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps) - Farres
Tico-tico no fuba (Bird in the cornmeal) - Abreu
Cielito lindo (Little heavenly one)
Takirari
La enganadora (The swindler) - Jorrin
El condor pasa (The flight of the condor)
La cucaracha (The cockroach)
Apanhei-te, cavaquinho (I've got you, cavaquinho) - Nazareth
Vamos pastorcitos (Come, shepherds)
Flor de Yumuri (The flower of Yumuri) - Anckermann
Estes indiferente (You are indifferent) - Veranes
La bamba
JAZZ:
Wonderful World
Autumn Leaves
I Got Rhythm
Body and Soul
Dark Eyes
The Hot Canary
How High the Moon
My Blue Heaven
Sweet Georgia Brown
This Can't Be Love
All The Things You Are
What Is This Thing Called Love
Stella By Stalight
On Green Dolphin Street
Have You Met Miss Jones
It Could Happen To You
There Will Never Be Another You
Out of Nowhere
Blue Bossa
'Round Midnight
So What
and Most Jazz Standards
RAGTIME:
The Entertainer
Maple Leaf Rag
KLEZEMER:
Hava Nagila
Congratulations to Bridegroom and Bride
Bulgar from Odessa (Odessa Bulgar)
At the Rabbi's Feast (Baym rebns sude)
Freylechs from Bukovina (Bukoviner Freylekhs)
Freylechs from Warsaw (Varshaver Freylekhs)
Leading the In-laws Home (Firn di mekhutonim aheym)
In-law's Dance (Mekhutonim Tants)
Sweet Father (Tate Ziser)
Dance of Displeasure (Broyges Tants)
Bulgar from Kishinev (Kishinever Bulgar)
Dance of Delight (Freylekh Tants)
Doyna
Street Melody (Der Gasn Nign)
The Wise Man's Song (Dem Tzadiks Zemerl)
Little Galitsian Dance (Galitsianer Tentsl)
Jewish Wedding Song (Khosn Kale Mazl Tov)
Dance Dance (Tants Yidelekh, Tants)
Avreml der Marvikher
Der Heyser Bulgar
Shalom Aleichem
Moishele Many Fraynd
Rozhinkez mit Mandlen
Firn Di Mekhutonim Aheym
Moshe's Donina
& Most other Klezmer Standards

Ben's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£125
Up to 1 hour£275
Up to 2 hours£400
Up to 3 hours£525
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

The flexibility of set lists and the expression and enjoyment I bring to the music. The possibility of creating a background atmosphere or performing and engaging the audience (such as in Care Home gigs).

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Many Churches and wedding venues. Pubs and music venues all over the UK and Isle of Man Cafe des Art, Grenoble most large English cathedrals

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

I love all music and styles and have been influenced by many many artists and pieces of music.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Glastonbury Music Festival

Do you have different line-up options?

Usually I play solo with backing tracks but I can also call other musicians in if required. I have an excellent network of high quality musicians I can book to play with me, here in Bristol. Just let me know what you have in mind and we can get it booked!

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

I always try my best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let us know.

How much time do you need to set up?

About 15 to 20 minutes. Please make sure there is power provided near to where I will be playing. I can provide a playlist either side of my performance to create an atmosphere, if required, please let me know.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Absolutely! We can chat about the songs and pieces you'd like and I'm happy to take requests from my repertoire or from outside my usual list! Let's chat and we can come up with a list that best suits your needs. Equally I'm happy to come up with a set list to suite your indicated tastes if that will take the stress out of it for you!

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes. I bring a speaker (amp), laptop or phone to play backing tracks, violin, and music stand. I can also bring a microphone and loop pedal if required.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

If a song isn't included in my song list there may still be a chance I already know it. If there is a special song you'd like me to learn, I am happy to do this for you. I can learn one or sometimes two songs that I do not know already for the same price and happy to learn more, for an extra fee of £40 to cover my time.
Musicianship
Genres:
Tango, Christmas, Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Early music, Film / TV music, Renaissance, Contemporary classical, Electronic, Ambient, Triphop, Folk, Ceilidh, Country, Bluegrass, Traditional English folk, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Jazz, Gypsy jazz, Latin jazz, Experimental, Argentinian, Balkan, Klezmer, Traditional church music, Medieval music, Folk rock, Blues, Jazz fusion, Avant garde, Originals, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1990s era music, 1980s era music, 1970s era music, 1960s era music, Modern jazz, Dixieland, Cabaret, Ragtime, Swing, Gospel, Barbershop, Pop, Acoustic, Covers, Hip Hop, Soul, Top 40, Karaoke, Disco, Funk, Ambient pop, Americana, Funk rock, Vintage, R&B, Motown, Tribute, Rock, Glam rock, Hard rock, Indie, Progressive rock, Punk rock, Pop rock, Alternative rock, Britpop, Hardcore, Post rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Synth rock, Power rock, Heavy metal, Classic rock, World music, African music, Australian music, Bollywood, Brazilian music, Cuban music, German music, Flamenco, Caribbean music, French music, Indian music, Jewish music, Latin, Salsa, Skiffle, Ska, Scottish music, Reggae, Spanish music
See all genres
Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Theatre / Show, Recording session, Concert, Charity event, Corporate event, Private event, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Arranger, Orchestrator, Audio engineer, Composer, Sound technician, Producer, Ableton Live, Live looping, Fluent improviser, Fluent sight-reader, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Singing teaching, Composition teaching, Community music worker, Musicologist, Animateur
See all skills