Benjamin Fingland interprets a diverse range of
clarinet literature, performing with “spiritedness and humor”,
“unflagging precision and energy”, “eloquence and passion” (
The New
York Times) and with playing described as “something magical” (
The
Boston Globe), “compellingly musical” (
The New York Times) and
“thoroughly lyrical” (
The Philadelphia Inquirer).
A proponent of the music of our time, Benjamin works closely with living
composers. In addition to being a founding member of the critically
acclaimed new music collective counter)induction, he plays with many of
the leading contemporary performance ensembles on the East Coast,
including NOVUS NY, Music From Copland House, the International
Contemporary Ensemble, the New York New Music Ensemble, the Network for
New Music, the Argento Ensemble, and the Locrian Chamber Players. He is
an artist faculty member of the annual Composers Conference, and a guest
faculty member of the Bennington Chamber Music Conference.
Benjamin has performed worldwide as a recitalist and soloist, and has
also collaborated, recorded, and toured with a broad variety of other
artists – ranging in scope from the Brooklyn Rider string quartet and
the Horszowski Trio to Pierre Boulez and the Ensemble Intercontemporain,
to jazz legend Ornette Coleman and pop icon Elton John. He is the
principal clarinetist of the New Jersey Festival Orchestra, has held
principal positions with the Prometheus Chamber Orchestra and the New
Haven Symphony, and has also played with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Benjamin is a member of the renowned Dorian Wind Quintet, which recently
celebrated 60 years of groundbreaking commissions and performances of
wind chamber music. He has Bachelor and Master of music degrees from The
Juilliard School and teaches at Sarah Lawrence College and the Third
Street Music School. He has performed at the Festival since 2022.
www.benjaminfingland.com
[2023]