Location of Teaching: Duluth, Minnesota.

Instruments Taught: Piano.

Times Available: Monday through Thursday - Variable Times.

Rates: Please contact for current rates.

Educational Background: Studied under Ms. Beth Kaiser and Mrs. Vicki Ott. A home school graduate, and Lake Superior College graduate, and had 2 years of the music program at UW-Superior

Experience: Ben Hanson, Duluth native, is a local musician in the Duluth Superior area, as a pianist, vocalist, and teacher. He studied piano with Vicki Ott and voice under Dr. David Playfair. He graduated from Hanson High School in 2002, and received his Associate of Arts degree from Lake Superior College. As a musician, he has done everything from teaching, performing and everything in between. His teaching career began in 1999, and has continued with over 140 students under his name. He has taught privately, and also at Lincoln Park Elementary School, Hamlin Music Academy, and Schmitt Music. Ben has been a church musician since 1998. He was the pianist at Lincoln Park Baptist Church for 5 years, where he was a part of their music committee and worship team. He also plays at churches in the Duluth/Superior area, including Holy Family Catholic Parish, Eastridge Community Church, the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, and Mount of Olives Baptist Church. Ben has provided music for weddings, funerals, concerts, recitals, and church services. He has accompanied choirs, vocalists, and instrumentalists. He has worked with many schools in the Duluth area including Denfeld High School where he is their full time accompanist, and he was the accompanist and choir coordinator for the Lake Superior Youth Chorus. He is also the accompanist for the Lake Superior College concert choir. He has sung with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra Chorus, UW-Superior’s A cappella and Chamber choirs, and Lake Superior College’s Concert choir. He has worked with Jerry Upton, Mark Overland, Carolyn Rynex, Deb DeVaney, Vicki Ott, Tina Thielen-Gaffey, Calland Metts, Amy Frane, Sheila Shusterich, Charles Leibfried, Joanna Walters, Marcia VanCamp, Sebastian Tackling, Liz Larson, Dr. Matthew Faerber, and internationally renowned conductors Robert Ray, Markand Thaker, and Dr. Juan Tony Guzman. Ben has also worked on dramas, plays, and musicals. He was the music director for the Youth Celebration of Missions production at Mount of Olives Baptist Church for 4 years. He has worked on such shows as Hello, Dolly at the Duluth Playhouse in December, 2006. He was the assistant artistic director and rehearsal and performance pianist for the Duluth All City Musical, Fame that performed July, 2007. He also worked on the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat which performed in November, 2007 at Central High School, Duluth. Ben’s accomplishments include receiving 6 consecutive Superior ratings in the Duluth Music Teachers Association’s sponsored Junior Festival, where he also volunteered as an auditor for 3 years. Currently, Ben is the primary piano teacher at Schmitt Music in the Miller Hill Mall. Along with his teaching, he is the accompanist for the Denfeld High School and Lake Superior College’s choirs. He also plays at local churches in the Duluth area. He is the music director/pianist for the Youth Celebration of Missions night at Mount of Olives in March, 2008.

Awards: Has received six consecutive Superior ratings at the Duluth Music Teachers Association (DMTA) sponsored Junior Festival where he also volunteered as an auditor for 3 consecutive years.

Additional: In October 1999, he performed a solo music recital showcasing his piano and voice skills.

Member Number: 310

Beginning Date: 8/8/01