About Ben

     Benjamin Paul Schmalz is an award-winning Canadian musician from Calgary, Alberta. He studied with world-renowned pianist Stéphan Slyvestre at University of Western Ontario and earned his M. Mus in piano performance with a distinction on his graduating recital in 2022. He has been teaching piano, music theory, cello and the history of music for over 7 years to students across Canada, the United States and Japan of all ages and skill levels.

 

     In addition to his extensive teaching experience, he has performed as a soloist, in ensembles, and with singers across Canada and in Italy. Some of the notable singers he has performed with are Ontario-based vocalist Michaela Chiste (soprano) and Calgary-based singer-songwriter Kelsey Raine/Alice Awake. Ben has also collaborated with Kelsey on projects by writing and recording piano and cello parts for some of her original songs. 

 

     Along with earning an M. Mus, he also graduated with an MA in Music Theory at Western University in Fall 2023. For his MA Research Project, he analyzed medieval-themed soundtrack and videogame music and compared it to actual medieval music under the supervision of his project advisor Dr. Catherine Nolan. 

 

     After graduating from the University of Regina with a B. Mus in 2019 under the tutelage of pianist Dr. Christine Vanderkooy and Canadian composer David McIntyre, Ben attended a music academy in Cremona, Italy in the following summer. His experience at the academy was led by many world-class musicians including Ben's associate and former teacher Derek Chiu, who helped him prepare for graduate school, pianists Dr. Sandy Herbert, Dr. Irena Kofman, and composer Whitman Brown. At the academy, he rehearsed with ensembles, attended workshops and masterclasses, composed original works, performed in recitals and placed 3rd in the senior piano category of the academy’s annual competition. His original compositions have been published and premiered by ensembles at this academy and at the University of Regina. 

 

     Additionally, he has placed 1st in several classes of the Calgary Performing Arts Festival and received many scholarships from this festival and throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies. In his spare time, he enjoys making art, playing videogames, watching movies, and spending time with his partner, pets, family, and friends. He currently lives in Dundas, ON where he performs, accompanies, and teaches music privately and at the Dundas Conservatory of Music.