Benjamin Boren
Coordinator of Keyboard Studies/Music Theory Lecturer
American pianist Benjamin Boren joined the music faculty at California State University Stanislaus in 2011 as Lecturer of Music, Coordinator of Keyboard Studies. He teaches applied piano lessons, academic piano classes, class piano, upper-division theory courses, is director of the Ghiglieri Piano Competition, and serves on the faculty for Summer Music at Stanislaus.
Described as a pianist with “an impressive blend of musicality and technical panache,” (Fanfare Magazine), American pianist Benjamin Boren has delighted audiences throughout North America as both a soloist and collaborative artist. He has a broad and extensive repertoire, with a particular fondness for contemporary music. His debut CD, Benjamin Boren Plays Carl Vine, was released in fall 2011 by Enharmonic Records to critical acclaim, including a rave review from Mr. Vine himself.
Boren’s concert highlights for the 2012-2013 season include a solo recital and several collaborative recitals at CSU, as well as concerts in other California locations, Las Vegas, Indiana, and a three-city concert and masterclass tour in China.
Originally from Noblesville, Indiana, Boren began taking lessons at age six, first performed with orchestra at age eleven, and gave his first solo recital at age twelve. As a youth, his competition prowess led to performances with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, New World Youth Orchestra (Indianapolis, IN), and for the “Suzuki and Friends” Chamber Series.
Boren holds a DM and MM in Piano from Indiana University, where he served as an Associate Instructor of Piano for six years and was twice a winner of the IU Travel Grant Competition; he also graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BM in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he was awarded first prize at the undergraduate scholarship competitions three consecutive years. His principal teachers have included Andre Watts, Evelyne Brancart, and William Black. As a fellow of the Music Academy of the West, the Sarasota Music Festival, and the Banff Summer Music Festival, he had opportunity to study with Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, Gilbert Kalish, Joseph Kalichstein, Claude Frank, and Robert Levin.
In addition to his solo CD, Boren’s collaborative work can be heard on two Enharmonic Records releases - with world-renowned saxophonist Kenneth Tse in Written for Kenneth, and with violinist Rachel Patrick in Presenting Rachel Patrick. He can also be heard on Titanic Records, playing with flutist Alexander Viazotsev in From My Homeland.
Please visit Dr. Boren’s personal website at www.benjaminboren.net to listen to his recordings, see his schedule, and learn more about lesson opportunities.