Benjamin David Tufte (b. 1999) prefers a multifaceted approach to music-making and is active in both performance and composition. Reflecting a deep love of his instrument’s repertoire, Benjamin’s pianist interests are as diverse as they are eclectic frequently pairing standard concert pieces with repertoire that is less well-known. Just as committed to collaboration as to solo music, Benjamin makes frequent performances of chamber music and art song and has performed extensively in a variety of string/piano duos. Notable performances from the previous season include concerts celebrating the 150 th birthdays of two modernist North American composers, Charles Ives in October 2024 and Julián Carrillo in April 2025. In addition to solo preludes and art songs, though primarily a pianist of the 12-toned variety, the recent Carrillo performance included Balbuceos, a piece composed for a 16-toned microtonal piano invented by the composer. Large ensemble performances include everything from concertante works like Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini to Stravinsky’s Petrushka to Viet Cuong’s Bull’s-Eye for wind ensemble.

While he has composed for everything from solo piano to the full orchestra to live electronics, Benjamin’s compositions are often collaborative in nature. Besides a Toccata for solo piano, he has also recently completed the commission of a trio to violin, trombone, and piano and a short duo for viola and piano. He has also received commissions from the Boston-based duo Transient Canvas and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA). The UMFA commission, Two Pines. Manitou, Colorado, based on a painting by Swedish painter Birger Sandzén, was named a finalist in the New York City Contemporary Music Symposium’s 2021 call for scores.

Benjamin has just completed a Performance Diploma in Piano with Jean-Louis Haguenauer and a Master’s Degree in Piano with Evelyne Brancart and the late pianist André Watts at Indiana University Bloomington’s Jacobs School of Music. Prior to his studies at IU, Benjamin completed an undergraduate degree majoring in both piano and composition studying with Dr. Viktor Valkov and Drs. Devin Maxwell, Manuela Meier, Igor Iachimciuc, and Luke Dahn, respectively. Festival appearances include the Piracicaba International Piano Festival, Roundtop Festival Institute, Brevard Music Center, Curtis SummerFest, and the Helen Taylor Johannesen International PianoFestival. Before studying with Viktor Valkov, he studied with Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel and MaryAnne Anderson at Southern Utah University.