Bachelor of Fine Arts in Guitar Performance with Honors, University of Wisconsin/Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Cooperative Guitar Program, Milwaukee, WI

First place winner of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music American finger-style guitar Scholarship Award

Worked with many of the finest finger-style guitarists in the world including Guy Van Duser, Benjamin Verdery, Billy McLaughlin, Preston Reed, Pat Donohue, Adrian Legg, Michael Hedges, Peppino D’Agostino, and Pierre Bensusan

Served on the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music guitar faculty for four years where he aided in the establishment of outreach programs at various elementary schools in the Milwaukee area

Fronted the guitar department within Project Create, a community driven fine arts program at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin

Worked with Professor Will Schmid, author of the Hal Leonard Guitar Series, as an assistant guitar instructor at UWM

Finger-style guitar instructor at several folk arts workshops organized by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Folk Center

Ben has worked and studied with many of the finest finger-style guitarists and has served on the faculty of the Wisconsin Conservatory of music.

Recently expanded his role as an educator by conducting a "Meet the Composer" forum at UW-Milwaukee where he lectured on his approach to composition and worked with college level students on their own playing and writing.