Ben Clinesmith

Ben Clinesmith, cellist, conductor, composer/arranger, received his formal musical training at the University of Kansas, Indiana University, Hartt College of Music, and Manhattan School of Music. As a young professional cellist, he was a member of the Houston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli and Andre Previn, and the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. While living in Maine from 1976 to 1990, he taught at the University of New Hampshire, Bates College and Bowdoin College. During those years, he played in the New England Piano Trio and was conductor of the Brunswick Regional Youth Orchestra; BRYO was made up of select players from throughout southern Maine, and was located at Bowdoin College. In 1992 Ben earned an MA degree from Bank Street College in New York City and subsequently taught at the Calhoun School in that city until his retirement in 2018. In addition to teaching music and conducting the Calhoun Community Orchestra, he was the originator and producer of Calhoun’s five Kids for Kids CDs, which feature music and words written in collaboration with Calhoun students. The last CD, called Calhoun Kids for Kids with Guest Artists, was produced by Atlantic Records and features several recording artists under contract with Atlantic.