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Ben Zander Highlight
Don't look around wondering whether you're better or worse than the next person because it's not about that-it's about what you want to do.
About Ben
- Wrote his first compositions when he was nine years old; his mother entered them into his town's annual art festival.
- One of the festival judges said his compositions were so bad, he should never write music again.
- Undeterred, his mother sent the music to renowned composer Benjamin Britten, who invited Zander to come study with him.
- Studied cello; at age 12, was youngest member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
- After taking five years off and traveling Europe as a "vagabond," returned to university, studied literature.
- Came to the U.S. to do graduate work at Harvard and Brandeis Universities.
- Conducts the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
- Nominated for Grammy for "Best Orchestral Performance" in 2010.
