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ABOUT BEN RUBIE

"I haven't heard a violin player swing like that since John Blake." 

--Avery Sharpe, (McCoy Tyner and violinist John Blake’s bass player) 

Ben Rubie started playing violin at age 5, studying at Harlem's highly regarded Opus 118 program. At age 11, he joined the classical Inter School Orchestra and attended a Harlem School of the Arts jazz program taught by a Berklee professor Rob Thomas. In middle school, he was given special permission to attend the Calhoun High School jazz camp and played as part of The Jazz Mafia with Roy Ayers at Central Park's Summer Stage

 

Ben graduated from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Middle School Academy. He also attended the Litchfield Jazz Camp and played at the Litchfield International Jazz Festival. for several years. In high school, he joined the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's prestigious Jazz for Teens program (NJPAC). He was chosen by Jazz for Teens for director Mark Gross to play as part of the band for The Tap Dance Kid directed by choreographer Savion Glover. Ben also opened for Trumpeter John Faddis as part of Redbank's Jazz in the Park series.

 

Ben currently attends New York University on the Steinhardt scholarship for jazz violin. He is a recipient of the National Young Arts award for three years in a row and a two-time Billy Strayhorn award winner. Ben is also a Virtu Violin Recipient. Ben was recently selected to audition for the prestigious Herbie Hancock program at UCLA in LA.  

My Story

When I was five years old my mother and I attended a musical instrument exhibit. I looked at instruments all day, but there was something about the violin that drew me in. I started taking classical lessons shortly after that and really fell in love with the instrument. I was about 10 when jazz started calling to me, too. It became abundantly clear to me that music was what I was meant to do. I was always listening to something or practicing constantly, which has gotten more intense as I've matured. I am lucky to be able to study and learn from great musicians and mentors, and even more, to be supported by them. The sense of community I've experienced through music--especially the jazz community--is very important to me, and has inspired me to convey the same feeling by playing for others. As I come to the end of my program at NYU, I’m looking forward to many more years of creating and performing music--hopefully with some of my heroes--and to work towards my goal of fostering community through my music. 

Performances

The following people, bands, and orchestras that Ben has performed with through the years:

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  • Inter School Orchestra

  • Roy Ayres/Jazz Mafia

  • Regina Carter

  • Christian McBride

  • Wayne Escoffery

  • Avery Sharpe

  • Johnathan Blake

  • Orrin Evans

  • Lenny White

  • Valery Ponomarev/Jazz Messenger

  • The Mingus Dynasty

  • NYChillharmonix

  • Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studios

  • Opened for trumpeter John Faddis

  • Two-time performer at Carnegie Hall

Mentors

Ben has been honored to study with, and been mentored by the following acclaimed professional musicians:

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  • Roberta Guaspari

  • Charlene Bishop

  • Ben Sutin

  • Rob Thomas

  • Victor Lin

  • Eli Yamin

  • Orrin Evans

  • Don Braden

  • Matt Wilson

  • Paul Bollenback

  • Avery Sharpe

  • Zaccai Curtis

  • Immanuel Wilkins

  • Lenny White

  • Aaron Parks

  • Adam Rogers

  • Sullivan Fortner

  • Marta Sanchez

Contact

Ben is always looking for new and exciting opportunities and hearing from fellow musicians, colleagues, fans, and friends. Please drop a note via the Contact form on my main page.

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