Dr. Benjamin Whitcomb, cellist

Benjamin Whitcomb, cellist, is highly regarded for his interpretation and musicality, both of which stem from his intelligence and his deep understanding of music theory. He plays with an enthusiasm that is contagious and a sensitivity that enthralls audiences. An active recitalist and chamber musician, he performs more than twenty concerts a year. He appears regularly on the "Sunday Afternoon Live from the Chazen" concert series broadcast live on Wisconsin Public Radio. He collaborates with pianist Vincent de Vries in frequent recitals around the country, and he is a member of the Ancora String Quartet and the UW-Whitewater Piano Trio. He performs concertos with local orchestras, and he has also been a member of several orchestras in Texas and Wisconsin, including serving as Associate Principal Cello of the Madison Symphony and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. He has produced several CDs of his recordings, including his 2007 release of solo cello works by Bach and Gabrieli on the MSR Classics label.

Best known for his remarkable intelligence, enthusiasm, and sense of humor, Dr. Dr. Whitcomb is quickly developing a reputation as one of the best cello teachers anywhere. He is an expert on every aspect of cello playing. His Ph.D. in music theory also informs his teaching, for he inspires his students not just to play their best, but also to understand how music works. He is a frequent guest clinician and performer at high schools and summer camps, including the National String Workshop, and universities throughout the country. His book on effective practicing is scheduled to be available in the spring of 2008, and he is also a contributing author to the third volume of Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra. He has presented papers on cello and on music theory at several national conferences, including those of the American String Teachers' Association and the Society for Music Theory. He is also an articles reviewer and the editor of the Cello Forum of the American String Teacher journal. He is past president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American String Teachers’ Association. Dr. Whitcomb served as chair of the instrumental faculty at the La Musica Lirica music festival in Nova Feltria, Italy, from 2004 to 2007.

Dr. Whitcomb is Associate Professor of Cello and Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater, where he initiated and continues to coordinate the Theory/History Colloquium speaker series, the Musical Mosaics Faculty Concert Series, and the UW-Whitewater String Chamber Music Camp. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma State University, and he has studied with Phyllis Young, George Neikrug, and Evan Tonsing.