My music career began in fourth grade when my music teacher handed me my plastic recorder. As soon as I received it, I couldn’t stop playing until I had mastered all of the elementary recorder skills. From there I quickly became heavily invested in music and experimented with the piano, ukulele, percussion, and singing in my school choir. In fifth grade, I made the decision to play the cello. Since then, I have performed in top levels of multiple region, festival, and youth orchestras, including the Texas Strings Festival, Indiana University Summer Strings Institute, TMEA Honors Orchestra, GDYO Philharmonic Orchestra, GNTYO Philharmonic orchestra, and my school’s chamber orchestra. I am also currently the principal cellist in DAAYO’s top orchestra. In addition, I have recently picked up the clarinet and was the principal clarinet in my youth orchestra’s Japan tour group. Music has played a large role in my life and is a part of who I am, and I’m so grateful to be participating in this competition!
You can find Benjamin’s 19th Century Music Competition 2024 cello performance here.