Benjamin Zander

Benjamin Zander began his musical training in England with cello and composition lessons under the guidance of his father. When he was nine, Benjamin Britten, England's leading composer, took an interest in Zander's development and invited the family to spend three summers in Aldeburgh in Suffolk where he lived. This led to a long association with Britten and lessons in theory and composition from Britten's close associate Imogen Holst, daughter of Gustav Holst.

At 15, Zander moved to Florence at the invitation of the great Spanish cello virtuoso, Gaspar Cassado, who became his teacher and mentor for the next five years. He completed his cello training at the State Academy in Cologne, traveling extensively with Cassado and performing recitals and chamber music.

In 1964 Benjamin Zander completed a degree at London University, winning the University College Essay Prize, and a Harkness Commonwealth Fellowship for post graduate work at Harvard. Boston has been his home ever since.

In 1967 Mr. Zander joined the Faculty of the New England Conservatory, where he teaches his famous Interpretation Class, conducts the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and regularly conducts the conservatory orchestras.

In 1979, after seven years as the conductor of the Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston, the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra was founded specially for Zander. In their 24 seasons together they have traversed a wide repertory from Bach to specially commissioned works, with an emphasis on late Romantic and early Twentieth Century repertoire, especially the symphonies of Gustav Mahler. To celebrate the orchestra's 25th Anniversary in 2003 2004, the BPO performed an all Mahler season, including a performance of Mahler's Second Symphony in Carnegie Hall in February.

Over the last decade, Benjamin Zander has launched an extensive international career. He guest conducts all over the world, often appearing with the Philhamonia Orchestra in London. Zander also recently made his debut with the Israel Philharmonic.

Mr. Zander has become recognized as one of the seminal teachers of the era. He has been featured in an hour long profile on the BBC and on CBS's 60 Minutes. Each of his Telarc recordings includes a full length bonus CD, vividly explaining the music for lay listeners, which, in part, explains their phenomenal commercial success.

Benjamin Zander travels the world as a leadership speaker. In 2003 he delivered a four hour presentation to six thousand schoolteachers in Singapore, and he has keynoted three times at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He is also is coauthor of the best-selling book, The Art of Possibility (2000), translated into 14 languages.

In 2002, Mr. Zander was awarded the "Caring Citizen of the Humanities" Award by the International Council for Caring Communities at the United Nations.