Benjamin Schuchman grew up in Basking Ridge NJ. From a young age, he was surrounded by music with his mother playing violin and his sister playing cello. At age 3, his mother started him on piano. After playing piano for around 5 years, Ben chose to start playing the double bass. In middle school, Ben played with numerous youth orchestras around NJ. Eventually, he became the principal double bassist of the New Jersey Youth Symphony. Ben currently attends Ridge High School in Basking Ridge NJ and serves as the principal bassist of the Ridge Symphony Orchestra under Jennifer Curran. Most notably, Ben currently plays in the New York Youth Symphony under Andrew J. Kim. Additionally, at his high school, Ben is the president of the Tri-m Music Honor Society. In the summer of his sophomore year of high school, Ben attended Brevard Summer Music Festival and studied under George Speed, Daniel Tosky, and Craig Brown. Back at home, he currently studies with Roosevelt Porter and Edward Francis-Smith.
Watch Benjamin Schuchman perform Concerto No.1 in B Minor by Giovanni Bottesini on the double bass for the 19th Century Music Competition 2025 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.