About

Benjamin has as diversified a career as any classical musician playing today. He has established himself as a diverse player who can seamlessly transition between the genres of pop, rock, bluegrass, big band, folk, jazz, as well as traditional western classical music; additionally, he has particular skill in classical Turkish, Middle Eastern, and Indian genres including kirtan. He has performed and freelanced across the country from Los Angeles, to New York City, Boulder, Santa Fe, Boston, and across upstate New York in such notable and diverse venues as The Belly Up Tavern (Solana Beach, CA) the Clayton Opera House (Clayton, NY) and the Saint Francis Auditorium (Santa Fe, NM) among others.

He has performed with such artists as Monica Behan, The Everbody's Hooked Orchestra, The Barnwell Shift, Girish, Orkestra Marhaba, the UMB Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Chamber Players, and with members of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra to name a few. He has also performed in numerous festivals and events including The Albuquerque Film & Media Experience, Rock for the River, the Concert Series of San Miguel, and Ocean Commotion.

Born into an eclectic family, Benjamin gained a level of musical and personal maturity growing up in both Europe and America. This had a profound effect on his cultural and artistic understanding. His musical upbringing was diverse as he began on the piano at age three, moving on to the clarinet, and arriving at the violin at age eight. From there, Benjamin continued his education with violinists Stephen Redfield and Gail Robertson, studying chamber music in the summers through the CHAMPS! program. He has also participated in the NAU Curry Summer Music School.

Benjamin actively composes works and frequently performs them in concert. He has written a sonata for solo violin, numerous pieces for piano solo, a duet for soprano and violin, and is finishing a piano concerto and an opera.

Benjamin studied at the New England Conservatory before leaving to study in the studio of Richard Rood in both New York City and in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has a B.A. with honors in Ethics, Social, and Political Philosophy.

Music

Mendelssohn - Piano Trio No.1 in D minor
Rachmaninoff - Piano Trio No.1 in G minor (Trio Elegique)
Smetana - Piano Trio in G minor Op. 15
Shostakovich - Quartet No. 8 [1st & 2nd violin]
Dvorak - Quartet No. 12 (American) [1st & 2nd violin]
Schubert - Quartet No. 14 in D minor (Death and the Maiden) [1st & 2nd violin]
Schumann - Fantasiestücke, op.88
Bach - Goldberg Variations (Arr. String Trio)
Mozart - Quartet No. 15 in D minor
Beethoven - Septet in E-Flat major
Brahms - Quintet No. 2 in G major [2nd violin]
Beethoven - Viola Quintet, Op. 29 in C major (Storm)
Beethoven - Piano Trio in B-Flat major (Archduke)
Beethoven - Quartet No. 8
Beethoven - Quartet No. 9
Bach - Orchestral Suite No. 2
Brahms - Violin Sonata No. 2
Beethoven - Violin Sonata No. 8
Beethoven - Violin Sonata No. 4
Paganini - Cantabile
Paganini - Grand Sonata for Guitar and Violin
Paganini - Sonata Concertata
Giuliani - Complete Works
Scheidler - Sonata in D
Holst - Four Songs for Voice and Violin
Vaughan-Williams - Along the Field
Cui - Kaleidoscope Op. 50
Mozart - Violin Sonata in G major K. 301
Bach - Partitas and Sonatas (selections)
Bach - Cello Suites (selections)
Beethoven - Romance No. 2
Bartok - Romanian Folk Dances
Romanian Folk Songs
Turkish Folk Songs
Classical Indian Ragas

Videos