Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “first-rate clarinetist,” clarinetist Benjamin Seltzer is the newest addition to the prize-winning woodwind quintet, Vento Chiaro. Previously, Mr. Seltzer held the position of Principal Clarinet/Artist-in-Residence with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra for seven years. He has also been guest principal with the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Gilmore Festival Orchestra, and has played with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gardner Chamber Orchestra and the Callithumpian Consort, performing under the baton of conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Christoph Eschenbach, James Levine, Kurt Masur, Donald Runnicles, Kurt Sanderling, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Gerard Schwarz. He has been frequently heard on Michigan Public Radio and has recorded for the Albany and Mode record labels.
Mr. Seltzer has won several prizes including First Prize at the 2003 Coleman International Chamber Music Competition in California. A 2009 Tanglewood Music Center Fellow, he has also performed at Banff, Killington, IMAI, National Orchestral Institute, Schleswig-Holstein, and Stockbridge summer music festivals. He has performed chamber music with the Boston Trio, Laurence Lesser, Daniel Veis and the Viramundo Chamber Ensemble. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music where his teacher was Craig Nordstrom. He has also studied with David Weber, Yehuda Gilad and Larry Guy.
As a teacher of all ages and abilities, Mr. Seltzer maintains a teaching studio in the Boston area. His students have won competitions and have been accepted into clarinet performance degree programs at such prestigious schools as the University of Michigan and Peabody Conservatory. He has given masterclasses at Western Michigan University and Hope College.
Benjamin Seltzer, clarinet
Mr. Seltzer has won several prizes including First Prize at the 2003 Coleman International Chamber Music Competition in California. A 2009 Tanglewood Music Center Fellow, he has also performed at Banff, Killington, IMAI, National Orchestral Institute, Schleswig-Holstein, and Stockbridge summer music festivals. He has performed chamber music with the Boston Trio, Laurence Lesser, Daniel Veis and the Viramundo Chamber Ensemble. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music where his teacher was Craig Nordstrom. He has also studied with David Weber, Yehuda Gilad and Larry Guy.
As a teacher of all ages and abilities, Mr. Seltzer maintains a teaching studio in the Boston area. His students have won competitions and have been accepted into clarinet performance degree programs at such prestigious schools as the University of Michigan and Peabody Conservatory. He has given masterclasses at Western Michigan University and Hope College.