Ben Jalensky
Ben Jalensky is a bass trombonist, and educator from Kenosha, Wi who aims to perform, and teach in as many styles as possible. To pursue this, Ben has studied at the Merit School of Music in Chicago, IL during high school with Colleen Bayoneto, Oberlin Conservatory for his undergraduate degree in trombone performance with Lee Allen, and John Gruber, and is currently pursuing a masters degree in performance at the Eastman School of Music with professor Larry Zalkind. Ben has also worked in chamber music settings with Tim Riordan, Jeff Scott, and Roy Popper, and has studied jazz improvisation with Jay Ashby, and Jamey Haddad. As a performer, Ben was selected to go on tour with the Oberlin Orchestra to Carnegie Hall in January of 2019, play with the Eastman Trombone choir at the 2023 American Trombone Workshop, and to record “Concerto of Colours” with the Eastman Wind Ensemble in May of 2023 featuring guitar soloist Nicholas Goluses. Summer festival experience includes performing with the Merit Trombone Choir at the 2018 International Trombone Festival in Iowa City, IA successfully auditioning for the 2019 Southeast Trombone Symposium in Columbus, GA , the 2021 Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar in Amherst, MA, and the 2023 Colorado College Music Festival in Colorado Springs, CO. Professional experience includes the 2018-19 Credo Festival Orchestra performing at various venues in Chicago including the Symphony Center, playing in the orchestra pit for the July 2022 production of “The King and I” through the Interlakes Theater Festival based in Meredith, NH, and substitute musician positions with Symphoria, and the Western New York Big Band.
Equally at home in jazz and commercial settings, Ben has performed with Arun Ramurthy, Becca Stevens, and Helio Alves with the Oberlin Performance and Improvisation group “Genre Nova”, a group dedicated to playing music and working with artists from around the world, while working on improvisation. Ben has also performed with the same group at the Bop Stop in Cleveland, OH, and was featured on the Cleveland Underground Concert Series. Ben has also performed with Maria Schneider with the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble, Russ Schmidt, and Ingrid Jensen with the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble. Ben is also an avid educator, and arts administrator dedicated to making music accessible to as many people as possible. He has served as trombone instructor for “Through the Staff”, an organization providing free online music lessons for students of all levels affected financially through the Covid-19 Pandemic. He has also served as trombone instructor, brass sectional coach, and assistant conductor for the wind symphony with the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra. Students under his tutelage have had success in solo and ensemble contests, and auditioning for groups such as the Cleveland Contemporary Youth Orchestra. Ben has also taught secondary trombone lessons at Oberlin Conservatory, and currently teaches Trombone Methods at Eastman.
As an administrator, Ben has served as advancement director for the Sacred Heart Concert Series based in Oberlin, OH. This organization is dedicated to connecting conservatory students with the community of Oberlin through monthly concerts, and community outreach which Ben played a role in helping to plan. Ben will be launching a chamber music camp for high school band students in the Northeast Ohio region starting Summer 2023 called “The Sacred Heart Chamber Music Summit” to also be hosted at Sacred Heart in Oberlin.