Benjamin Barnes, in 2022, was selected as a panelist to review grant applications for California Arts Council. 2020, Ben Barnes opened Bencasso.org, an art gallery which features his work and works of other artists. Bencasso artwork and images are sold on many products at the gallery web-store. In 2017, Ben worked as consultant to United States Department of Education rating fourth grade prosody evaluations. In 2013 Benjamin earned his Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.
In 1994 Ben received his Master of Music, and 1992, Bachelor of Music Degrees from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In high school Ben studied violin with Heifetz protege and concert soloist Sherry Kloss. These studies were supplemented with Oregon State University’s professor of violin and viola Marlon Carlson. Carlson served as the Principal Violist with the Tokyo Philharmonic and performed with many Orchestras and Chamber Music groups throughout Germany and Austria. At San Francisco Conservatory, Benjamin had private violin lessons with renowned teacher and bowing guru Izzy Tinkleman, as well as viola lessons with Paul Hersh, the respected chamber music coach. He undertook the weekly violin class with Zaven Melikian, former concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera. Barnes also took weekly viola class with professor Don Ehrlich, former associate principal viola of San Francisco Symphony. From, and on these foundations, Ben further developed his talents and performance skills.
Rilke String Quartet, recordings available here,, was coached by Concord String Quartet first violinist Mark Sokol and he went off-campus to study electric violin, jazz performance and composition with Turtle Island String Quartet composer/performer David Balakrishnan.
Photo: Benjamin Barnes Feb. 2021
Ben with Isaac Stern
As a child Ben learned to sing, fiddle and play guitar from his father, David Barnes.
Ben has played and/or recorded music with Les Claypool, Mr. Bungle, Dead Prez, The Coup, Carla Kihlstedt, Eric McFadden, George Clinton and P-Funk, Jason Newsted, the former bass player of Metallica, DJ Disk, Brian Kehoe, Graeme Jennings, Isaac Stern and Fishbone. He has toured the world with his own groups Rilke String Quartet and Deadweight, and as a sideman with guitarist Erik McFadden.
Barnes has run a private teaching studio for over 30 years. 1990-1992, he held an artist-in-residence position at San Francisco’s School of the Arts (SOTA), he also has held violin teaching positions at Brandeis Hillel School, and Music City Academy.
In 2013, he received his Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential with Supplementary Authorization for Music from San Francisco State University. While earning his credential, Mr. Barnes was trained to assess students’ learning styles and implement best lesson plans to benefit individuals, small groups, and whole classrooms. Mr. Barnes substitute taught, volunteered, and was a student teacher in Kindergartens, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 8th grades in San Francisco public schools for several years. Studying education, practicing his craft in the classrooms informed and enhanced his instincts and love of teaching.
As an artist Ben has recorded on record labels including Nippon Columbia, Warner Bros., Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles and Les Claypool’s Prawn Song.
Photo: 1991 Ben with Isaac Stern
