Ben Spiers

Ben began violin lessons with Robert Dowdell before successfully obtaining a music scholarship to The Peninsula School in Mt Eliza. He played with the Peninsula Youth Orchestra for three years before joining the Frankston Symphony Orchestra, where opportunities arose that allowed him to appear as a soloist with the orchestra. He went on to join the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, under the distinguished Australian conductor and educator Fabian Russell. In 2011, whilst in Year 11, Ben successfully auditioned for the Australian Youth Orchestra program. Over the next few years with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Ben travelled all around Australia and Europe working with some of the world’s finest conductors and soloists including Christoph Eschenbach, Simone Young, Thomas Dausgaard and Arvo Volmer.

After an extended period in Europe through 2013 and early 2014, Ben commenced his undergraduate studies at The University of Melbourne studying with violinist Monica Curro. He completed his Bachelor of Music at Monash University Zelman Cowen School of Music, studying under esteemed Australian violinist Sophie Rowell. He was concertmaster of The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for 2014 and appointed concertmaster of the Melbourne Opera Orchestra in 2016. He has led the orchestra for Melbourne Opera’s sellout seasons of Tannhäuser (2016), Lohengrin (2017), Tristan und Isolde (2018), Der Rosenkavalier (2018), Der Fliegende Holländer (2019), The Richard Divall Emerging Artists Programme (2022) of Figaro, and Wagner’s Ring Cycle (2023) in Bendigo, as well as several tours with the orchestra to China. In 2017, Ben toured with Ensemble Eight 88 piano quartet playing in esteemed concert halls all over China.

Ben has twice appeared as soloist with the North Queensland Chamber Orchestra. Former teachers have included Sarah Curro and Michele Walsh. Ben enjoys both teaching and working as a freelance musician in and around Melbourne. Ben has also appeared as a Guest with the Partridge String Quartet.