In less than three weeks, NAfME will welcome multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter, and producer Ben Folds to our national in-service conference in Nashville, where he will host the keynote opening session.
Ben Folds first found success with the Ben Folds Five, and has gone on to have a successful solo career: writing, recording and performing pop hits, as well as a recent new concerto for piano and orchestra. Ben has also achieved critical acclaim as a judge on NBC’s a cappella competition “The Sing-Off,” which aired for five seasons.
Over the past year, Ben has ventured into film and television, including a role on Comedy Central’s “Community.” He’s also written and recorded several songs for film and TV.
Ben serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Nashville Symphony, and has composed a highly acclaimed concerto for piano and orchestra. He premiered the concerto in Nashville, and has been performing select movements of it and other orchestrations of his pop hits with major symphonies before sold out crowds across the nation. This year he is touring in Europe, the Pacific Rim and Australia. In a number of locations on tour he is also holding master classes at symphony venues for local students.
Ben’s self-described love of making music “for humans,” was nurtured from an early age by his public school music instructors. As one who believes in the healing power of music, Mr. Folds uses his role as a member of the distinguished Artist Committee for the Americans for the Arts to be an outspoken advocate for music education and music therapy.
A Nashville resident, Ben owns and operates the historic RCA Studio A, once managed by Chet Atkins, and the home to thousands of legendary recording sessions in all genres of music – from Elvis Presley to the Monkees, Dolly Parton to Kacey Musgraves, Tony Bennett to the Beach Boys, Brian Setzer to Hunter Hayes.
We at NAfME are looking forward to what is sure to be an inspiring and entertaining kick-off to the year’s best (most fun, most informative, most inspiring) conference experience for music educators!
Are you joining us in NafVille?? Get more details here!
