Ben Donnell is currently finishing up teacher’s certification from Texas Tech University, and will graduate in May 2020. He is student teaching in Keller ISD, and is looking to be a band director in the greater DFW area. 

 

As a soloist and chamber musician, Ben has traveled and performed extensively at the 2011 and 2013 NASA Region Conferences in Huntsville and Fort Worth, Texas; the World Saxophone Conference XVI in St. Andrews, Scotland during the summer of 2012; and the 2012 NASA Biennial National Conference in Tempe, Arizona. During the 2012 season, Ben was a member of the Carmine Quartet, winners of the 2012 TMTA/MTNA Chamber Music State competition. Ben has also performed in masterclasses with Claude Delangle, Nathan Nabb, Jeffery Loeffert, Jonathan Helton and Matt Sinchak and has participated in many collaborative performances with Texas Tech colleagues in the School of Music. He holds professional affiliations with the North American Saxophone Alliance and the Texas Music Educators Association. While at Texas Tech, Ben was an active member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, TTU Jazz Ensemble I, the TTU Saxophone Ensemble and Quartets. He was the winner of the Texas Tech Band Camp Concerto Competition, playing the Concerto by Henri Tomasi. He performed with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble during its 2013 Texas Tour, which culminated in a feature performance at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in February. As a jazz musician, Ben has had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Dick Oatts, Rodney Booth, and Conrad Herwig.  Ben’s previous teachers include Nathan Nabb, David Dees, and George Riddell. 

 

Ben Donnell, a native of Levelland, Texas, holds a Masters of Music in Performance degree from Stephen F. Austin State University where he served as the graduate teaching assistant for the saxophone studio. Ben also holds a degree in Music Performance (BM) with a jazz studies certificate from Texas Tech University. 

 

In his free time, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife, hanging out with friends, keeping up with the latest news in sports, playing video games, and spending time with his family.