Benjamin Rogers

A native of Knoxville, TN, cellist Benjamin Rogers is a member of the Canton Symphony Orchestra and is the principal cellist of the Cleveland Opera Theater. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with renowned pedagogue Dr. Melissa Kraut, and DePaul University, studying with former assistant principal cellist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Balderston and current Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist, Brant Taylor.

Benjamin was the first prize winner of the 2014 Tennessee Cello Workshop Competition and has performed in masterclasses for preeminent cellists Lynn Harrell, Amit Peled, Inbal Segev, and Richard Aaron. In 2016 he was one of ten cellists selected to study under the renowned cellist Zuill Bailey at the Sitka International Cello Seminar and performed extensively throughout the Alaskan community. Benjamin has also performed regularly with Stars in the Classics, an organization which presents monthly solo and chamber music recitals in the Cleveland area.

As an advocate of contemporary music, Benjamin has performed extensively with the Chicago-based Ensemble 20+, and has worked with members of Eighth Blackbird and Ensemble Dal Niente. Recently, Benjamin has been active as a member of the cello quartet, Hole in the Floor, where they recently performed a concert cycle of seven world premieres of works by Detroit-area composers. Last summer they debuted in Atlanta for the YInMn contemporary music festival and had their New York City debut this past winter.