Benjamin Chen - Clarinet
Clarinetist Ben Chen has given concerts on three continents and all over the United States - from Maine to Alaska.
As a young musician, Ben made his American solo debut at the Kennedy Center, the result of winning the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute concerto competition. He returned to the nation’s capital eight years later, where he was assistant principal and E-flat clarinetist with the Washington National Opera and Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.
Ben subsequently continued his work as an opera musician as a member of the Sarasota Opera Orchestra since 2020. He also currently holds positions with the Erie Philharmonic, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and was previously principal clarinetist of the Youngstown Symphony.
In addition to his contracted appointments, Ben has performed in subscription concerts with The Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, and as guest principal clarinetist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Equally dedicated to chamber music, Ben is a member of the award-winning North Coast Winds Quintet, establishing an annual chamber music institute with the Music Settlement in Cleveland. His festival appearances include the Pacific Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, Breckenridge Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, and ChamberFest Cleveland.
A devoted educator, Ben teaches at the New England Music Camp, one of the nation’s first summer music programs, and the Oberlin Community Music School. He previously served as an interim faculty member at Kent State University and a guest instructor at the Oberlin Conservatory. He has also given master classes throughout the United States and China.
Ben earned degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Franklin Cohen, and an Artist Diploma from the Oberlin Conservatory with Richard Hawkins. He resides in Bratenahl, Ohio, with his husband, pianist Dean Zhang. Together, they present recitals nationwide as the Edgewater Duo.