Ben Steinberg was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was educated at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto. The son of an orthodox cantor, he is well known across Canada and the U.S. for his lecture-recitals on Jewish Music history and style, and has conducted and lectured overseas in such places as Israel, Hong Kong, Australia and Japan.

A professional composer of both sacred and secular music, he is one of the most widely commissioned composers of Jewish music worldwide. His works, published in the U.S., Canada and Israel, include Sabbath services, choral and orchestral settings, instrumental and vocal chamber music and solo pieces.

In addition to his published music, Steinberg is author of two books on adult and youth choirs and is a contributor to the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. His honors include: the l983 Kavod Award from the Cantors' Assembly (Conservative), the l990 Guild of Temple Musicians' inaugural Shomer Shira Award,
honorary membership in the American Conference of Cantors in l992, a Composer's Award from the American Harp Society in l983, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from New York’s Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in l998.

On Nov. 12, 2004, he was honored by the Canadian Council for Reform Judaism for
Lifetime Achievement. On Dec. 6, 2001, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations
presented him with its highest honor, the ‘Eisendrath Bearer of Light’ award. He has been twice honored by the City of Jerusalem, which invited him to be an artist-in-residence at its creative retreat. There he researched and wrote his cantata "Echoes of Children" which won the prestigious l979 International Gabriel Award.

He is the founding chairman of two unique annual competitions which encourage young musicians to compose and perform; his congregation's "Ben Steinberg Musical
Legacy Award" to a young performing artist, and the Guild of Temple Musicians' "Young Composer's Award". Currently Co-President of the Guild of Temple Musicians, he is Director Emeritus of Music and Composer-in-Residence at Temple Sinai in Toronto. In recognition of his contribution to Canadian
music and Jewish music worldwide, the University of Calgary (Alberta) has
established a “Ben Steinberg Archive” to house his original manuscripts, scores and papers.