Conductor and pianist Paul Bateman has performed a wide variety of music and is especially known for his recordings of film soundtracks. His conducting career began in musical theater as he served as music director for productions in London's West End. Bateman's recording career began in 1989 when he served as choir master on pop singer Barry Manilow's self-titled album. In 1994, he appeared as the conductor on the album Born on the Fourth of July: Music from the Films of Tom Cruise, beginning a long career as a film music conductor. Bateman is also a composer of mostly sacred music. He has led the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on a series of albums devoted to the music of composer Oliver Davis, many of which feature violinist Kerenza Peacock; these include Oliver Davis: Air in 2022. In 2018, Bateman was appointed the principal conductor of Britain's National Symphony Orchestra.