Ben Kearns
Ben Kearns (He/They) is a third-year DMA student in Bassoon Performance at Arizona State University. He received his Bachelor’s of Music in Bassoon Performance from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania in 2020, and his Master’s of Music in Bassoon Performance at Arizona State University in 2022.
Kearns grew up in Macedon and Palmyra, New York, and was active in his high school band and choir. Always excited to try new things, Kearns jumped from instrument to instrument, starting on piano, trombone, clarinet, and saxophone and finally getting his hands on a bassoon.
A musician with various musical interests and styles, Kearns enjoys performing opera and musical theater music, chamber music, and contemporary music that highlights underrepresented composers. Dedicated to working in newer mediums of contemporary music, Kearns has studied electronic music and programs like MaxMSP, Ableton, and Reason. He plans to use these tools to work with composers to create new soundscapes that can be made possible by the bassoon as a solo instrument and in chamber ensembles. Kearns has been invited to teach Bassoon at Mansfield University summer music camps and his high school, where he shared the wonders of the bassoon and reed-making to young musicians.
Kearns was a member of the former Aenea Reed Quintet, having won first prize in the North American Saxophone Alliance’s first-ever FLEX competition and qualifying for the final round of the Coltman Chamber Music Competition. He also presented two world-premiere works for bassoon quartet at the 2024 IDRS Conference in Flagstaff, AZ, Azan by Sergey Kvorostyanov and Cabinet of Curiosities by Kincaid Rabb. Kearns recently performed with the Arizona Philharmonic in Prescott, AZ in their season-opening concert, “Passion, Peace, and Power” alongside fellow ASU students, professors, and alumni.
Outside of classical music, Kearns enjoys nearly all kinds of popular music. He enjoys hunting for old records (a HUGE Zia fanboy!), playing tabletop roleplaying and video games with friends, cooking, and caring for his growing plant collection.