Ben Wolkins is now part of The Ridgewood Conservatory faculty in Ridgewood, NJ, and is teaching trumpet lessons part time. For more info or to register for lessons please contact The Ridgewood Conservatory at www.theridgewoodconservatory.com
BIO
Ben Wolkins was born in 1976 in Toledo, Ohio into a large family of musicians and music lovers. As his father, Ric Wolkins was a professional trumpet player, he grew up listening to the sounds of Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, Bill Chase and Blood, Sweat and Tears. "To this day I can still hear "Serpentine Fire" by Earth, Wind and Fire as I was rocked to sleep in my mothers arms." But before Ben was able to put a trumpet mouthpiece to his face, he took piano lessons from his Aunt Lois Kear and was taught the basics of music. As he progressed; he began cornet lessons with his father's teacher, Bernard Sanchez, who was also the chairman of the music dept at the University of Toledo. Early on he switched to the trumpet and his love of the trumpet became serious.
At the age of 14, Ben's parents divorced and his mother remarried. His new stepfather was Dave Tippett, a trumpet player who had played lead for Buddy Rich and other big bands. Dave introduced Ben to some different concepts of trumpet playing and to his teacher William Adam in Bloomington, Indiana. And so began many road trips to Bloomington for lessons. With his passion for music growing stronger Ben graduated a year early from high school and attended the University of Toledo studying with Bernard Sanchez and jazz great Gene Parker. "I really loved the U of T but I felt I needed to grow more”. So Ben moved to Cincinnati and enrolled in the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Jazz and Studio Music and studying with Pat Harbison and department head Rick Vanmatre.
His studies were interrupted for a short interval as Ben went on the road with The Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Larry O'Brien. He returned to Cincinnati for several more years, and then followed his trumpet teacher Harbison to Indiana University. He had still been commuting back and forth to Bloomington for lessons with Mr Adam so he moved to Indiana and waited for residency to begin school. While waiting he spent time on the road traveling with Jack Morgan and the Russ Morgan Orchestra and had the opportunity to play in the same section as his step dad, Dave Tippett. They toured parts of Mississippi, Louisiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Georgia. Upon returning once again to Bloomington, Ben studied with another great musician, John Rommel.
In the year 2000, Ben married his high school sweetheart and soul mate Trisha. Once again Ben was craving more and they decided if he were truly to achieve his dream they needed to be in New York City. They had visited the Big Apple once before and fell in love with the energy of a big city. After they were married, Ben and Trisha moved to Brooklyn and began the next phase of their lives. New York definitely changed Ben's musicianship. He worked harder than ever and met great musicians such as Jon Owens, John Eckert, Carl Fischer, Bill Dunn and others who also helped him snag gigs.
After a few years, Ben and Trisha took a short leave from NYC, moving back to Toledo, Ohio, where Ben finally finished his Bachelors Degree where it had first begun, at the University of Toledo. His new trumpet teacher was Mark Byerly, a great trumpet player from Detroit, Michigan. Gunnar Mossblad was leading the University's Jazz program. While completing his degree, Ben played with greats including David Liebman, Vic Juris, Tony Marino, Marko Marcinko, Steve Turre, Jamey Haddad, Jim Ridl and Jon Hendricks. The day after graduation, Ben and Trisha returned to New York. While now living in Manhattan, Ben strives to become the best that he can be.
Ben has recently completed his M. A. in Jazz Studies at Queens College, CUNY studying with Michael Mossman and is in pursuit of employment. Ben's hope is to someday be a part of an East coast University Faculty to give back all that he has received through his years of study with so many who have shaped his life.
