ABOUT
I'm a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with a B.A. Degree in Humanities/Fine Arts with areas of concentration in music, art, and English. Raised in a musical family, (my parents are both retired music teachers), I learned violin at age 4, took piano lessons for a summer as a youngster at UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso), and studied cello from age 9 to 13. My cello studies included private lessons from the El Paso Symphony Orchestra's First Cellist; 2 summers at Interlochen summer music camp in Michigan; and 2 years at a the Schweinfurt Musikschule in Schweinfurt, Germany. While sttending 6th grade in a private Episcopalian school, I played cello and recorder with an early music consort performing authentic Baroque-period music from the court of King Henry VIII, the creator of the Episcopalian (Anglican) church. These Baroque-influenced motifs often find their way into my heavier, "Iron Maiden" sounding compositions.
While living in El Paso as a youngster, I also sang with the El Paso Boys' Choir and performed with them and with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra in their rendition of "Carmina Burana," a powerful choral piece later made famous in the Arnald Schwartzenegger movie "Conan the Barbarian."
During that same time, I performed with the El Paso Gilbert and Sullivan acting company in their productions of "The Sorcerer" and "The Gondoliers." At the time I was the youngest member of the troupe. I also performed in a production of "Fiddler on the Roof."
I switched from cello to guitar in high school, and taught myself basic guitar chords and techniques with the help of a Jimi Hendrix song-book. I've played both keyboards and guitars with various soul, top-40, blues, rock, and heavy metal bands.
Note: All of my songs are copyrighted and I am a member of ASCAP.
- Screen name:
- bengaren
- Member since:
- Apr 05 2016
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Just for Fun
- Years playing music:
- 45
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- More than 3 times per week
Instrument experience:
- Vocalist - Tenor:
- Advanced
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Advanced
- Lead Guitar:
- Advanced
- Acoustic Guitar:
- Advanced
- Bass Guitar:
- Advanced
- Keyboard:
- Advanced
- Background Singer:
- Advanced
- Cello:
- Advanced
- Vocalist:
- Moderate
- Piano:
- Moderate
EQUIPMENT
Roland RD-700 keyboard, Roland Juno DS61 synthesizer, 2 Fender Stratocaster Players with Floyd Rose tremolo systems, Sunfield "Soul" LP-style gold top guitar, Yamaha Pacifica 012DLX guitar, Fender Squire Jazz bass guitar, Ibanez Talman electric/acoustic guitar, Marshall JVM410H 100W amp, Marshall TSL 2000 100W guitar amp, Marshall 1960A&B 4x12 speaker cabs, Marshall DSL40C 40W combo guitar amp, Crate Palamino V32 32W tube guitar amp, Ampeg 40W bass amp combo, Donner Arena 2000 amp modeling processor, Alesis Surge E-drum kit, 6 Behringer Ultravoice XM1800S Dynamic Cardioid Vocal and Instrument Mics, Sennheiser Evolution vocal mic, Sure SM57 instrument mic, Roland KC-100 4-channel keyboard/vocal amp, Rockville RPM109 12 Channel 4800w Powered Mixer/PA system.