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Ben Diagram Duo: In Recital
Tubist Ben Vasko and Percussionist, Ben Goldman originally met while touring as associate artists with The Rodney Marsalis Phildalphia Big Brass. After four years of spontaneous jams and sightreading jazz charts together, they have decided to join forces as The Ben Diagram Duo. This unique intrumentation provides a new vehicle for their diverse musical backgrounds and tastes and showcases their instruments in soloistic ways. While this recital will feature jazz standards, Bach, and the music of the Beatles, it will also feature several world premeires including the eponymous “Ben Diagrams.”
Bios:
Ben Goldman is a versatile drummer and percussionist who “demonstrates his aptitude to adapt.” (Susan Frances, Jazz2Love). Recently back from a stopover in the midwest, Ben built a private studio of 40 students and is the professor of percussion at Cecil College. When he is not teaching or performing locally, Ben performs as an associate artist with The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass. Ben is a member of 6ix Wire, a World Music ensemble in residence at The University of Delaware. In addition to touring with these ensembles, Ben has been on faculty at several international music festivals. Ben led the Peace Drums Orchestra and performed in faculty ensembles at the Tefen Music Festival in Israel. At the 2017 and 2019 Master Players Festival hosted at the University of Delaware, Ben directed the World Music ensembles and chaired the percussion division. Ben has also been a clinician and recitalist at Coastal Carolina University and Joliet Junior College.
As the bandleader for Glen Boldman & The Philadelphia 5 and The Ben Goldman Project, his compositions have been hailed as “bubbling [and] long on style” (Dodie Miller-Gould of LemonWire) and as “a fresh outlook on jazz [with a] solid dose of funk and groove” (Brice Boorman of Chalked UP Magazine). Ben holds a BFA from California Institute of the Arts, an MM from University of Delaware, and a masters in Education Policy from The University of Illinois, where he focused on the performing arts and education in conflict zones. Ben is proudly sponsored by Vater Percussion
Dr. Vasko holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas and a Master of Music degree from the University of Georgia, both in Tuba Performance. His primary teachers have been Sam Pilafian, Charles Villarrubia, and David Zerkel. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Boston University under Mike Roylance. Dr. Vasko’s dissertation is an exploration of the benefits that collaborative learning has on student well-being and musicianship in the collegiate tuba/euphonium ensemble.Dr. Vasko has had the honor of performing with the Boston Symphony, the Boston Pops, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Orlando Philharmonic, and other wonderful organizations. He tours with the Brookwood Trio (trumpet, tuba, piano), bringing its unique instrumentation around the United States. His recent highlights include performing the Rite of Spring with the Orlando Philharmonic, a tour through Florida and south Georgia with Brookwood Trio, and the GRAMMY-nominated recording of “Lord of Cries,” John Corigliano’s newest opera, with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Dr. Vasko is also an associate artist and soloist with the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, performing concerts and outreach programs across the country.
Benjamin Vasko is an Eastman Performing Artist.
