Acclaimed by the press for his “charismatic”, “very individual” and “always gripping” playing, Toronto-born, Berlin-based pianist Ben Cruchley is the laureate of the International Telekom Beethoven Competition in Bonn, Germany, as well as the International Grieg Competition in Norway. He has appeared in prestigious halls such as the Musikverein in Vienna, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, Roy Thompson Hall and the Richard Bradshaw Ampitheatre in Toronto, and the Troldsalen in Norway. Recent orchestral appearances include the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, the Narva Symphony Orchestra in Estonia, and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He studied intensively with Dang Thai Son in Montreal and subsequently with Benedetto Lupo at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. 

 

Ben is distinguished for the breadth of his musical experience. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with members of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, the orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and the Canadian Opera Company. He has considerable experience as an interpreter of contemporary music, including a long-standing engagement with the Ensemble Novecento in Rome. In addition to engagements as an improviser and orchestral arranger, he worked on many occasions as assistant conductor and repetiteur for Toronto-based Opera Atelier. 

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Highlights of the 2024-2025 season include his debut in England at the Wensleydale Concert Series, as well as performances of original transcriptions of works of Mahler at the Gustav Mahler Vereinigung, Hamburg.