- Instrument Viola
Benjamin Burgdorf is an artist seeking to expand the possibilities and alter modern perceptions of classical music. This is accomplished through his work as a passionate performer and educator. As a classical performer, he served as acting principal violist with the Des Moines Symphony for the 20’-’21 & 21’-22’ seasons before joining the section in 2022. He explores the deeply expressive flute, viola, and harp literature as the violist of Juniper Trio and regularly performs across Minnesota with Sonorous Strings and the St. Croix Valley String Collective. Prior engagements include performing multiple seasons with the Belin Quartet, a founding member of Lux String Quartet from 2013-2018 (named 2015-16, 2017-18 Classical MPR Class-Notes Artist), section violist with the Quad City Symphony, a member of the funky jam band Improvestra, a travel-blogging, improvising street artist in Wormwood, and a frequent collaborative soloist with composers both locally and nationally. Burgdorf regularly collaborates with the Laurels String Quartet in Minneapolis and has also enjoyed substitute engagements with Orchestra Iowa, Mankato Symphony, and the South Dakota Symphony. In addition to classical engagements, Burgdorf enjoys his time on the stage at rock shows, having shared the stage at sold-out shows with Dessa, Dan Wilson of Semisonic, The New Standards, Jeremy Messersmith, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. As an educator, Burgdorf maintains a full Suzuki studio of the next generation of violinists and violists with Maple Strings. He draws inspiration from his students daily while guiding them through the joyous process of music-making. When not teaching or performing, you might find Benjamin playing in the dirt in his garden, playing chess far too late into the evening, or cooking extravagant potlucks with friends and family.
