Lesley Barber

Lesley Barber is a Canadian-born composer whose hauntingly beautiful film scores have become synonymous with emotional storytelling. Best known for her Academy Award-nominated work on *Manchester by the Sea* (2016), Barber crafts delicate piano-driven soundscapes and lush orchestral arrangements that amplify a film’s emotional core. Her collaborations with director Kenneth Lonergan (*Manchester by the Sea*, *Late Night*) showcase her knack for intimacy, while projects like *The Moth Diaries* (2011) and *Boarding School* (2018) reveal her versatility in darker, atmospheric genres.

A classically trained musician with roots in chamber music, Barber studied composition at the University of Toronto before honing her craft in the Netherlands. Beyond film, she’s composed for TV (*Maya the Bee*, *Anne with an E*) and theater, blending minimalist textures with folk-inspired motifs. Her work often walks the line between melancholy and hope—a signature style that’s made her one of indie cinema’s most sought-after composers.

Genres