Since winning First Prize at the 2016 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions in New York and 3rd Prize at the Michael Hill Competition in New Zealand Benjamin Baker has established a strong international presence. Described by The New York Times as bringing “virtuosity, refinement and youthful exuberance” to his debut at Merkin Concert Hall he is much sought after as soloist and chamber musician. 

Recent highlights include regular appearances at Wigmore Hall and on BBC Radio 3, his debuts with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with conductor Ryan Bancroft (Barber), Fort Worth Symphony with Dame Jane Glover (Beethoven), London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the East Neuk Festival, alongside solo appearances with the Auckland Philharmonia and Christchurch Symphony Orchestras in NZ.

The 24-25 season includes debuts with Mobile (AL), Newport (OR), Columbus (GA) Symphonies in the USA, the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra with conductor Jonathan Bloxham, and the world premiere of Matthew Kaner’s Violin Concerto co-commissioned by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Amarillo Symphony (TX). 

In 2021 Benjamin launched At the World’s Edge Festival (AWE) in Queenstown, NZ — an annual spring chamber music festival taking place every October attracting artists and audiences from around the world. From its hugely successful launch and growing support, 2023 saw AWE launch a series of events sharing a piece of New Zealand music and culture with audiences and musicians overseas. In 2024 this included performances in New York, Chicago, London, and Sydney. 

Solo recordings include with the BBC Concert and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras and two critically acclaimed CDs with pianist Daniel Lebhardt for Delphian Records, 1942 and 1919:Coda.

Other solo appearances in recent seasons include the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, Charleston Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia, RTE Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra Simón Bolívar of Venezuela, Krasnoyarsk Philharmonic, Albanian Radio Symphony, Royal Northern Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, English Chamber Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, Sinfonia Cymru, Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese L’Aquila, and Maui Pops Orchestras. 

In 2017 he premiered a new Concerto ‘Stranded’ by Matthew Kaner for the European Commission’s celebration of Europe Day at St. John’s Smith Square and collaborated as soloist with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company. 

Sought after as a chamber musician, Benjamin has taken part in festivals across Europe and the USA including the Pärnu, East Neuk, Cheltenham, Steirisches Kammermusik, Northern Chords Festivals, the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival with Anthony Marwood, and Caramoor‘s Rising Stars series with Pamela Frank. 

Born in New Zealand, Benjamin studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal College of Music with Natasha Boyarsky and Felix Andrievsky, where on graduation he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Rose Bowl. In 2013 he won 1st Prize at the Windsor International Competition and was a prize-winner at the YCAT International Auditions in London. He was a Fellow at the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute in Chicago in 2016 and 2017. His first CD for Champs Hill Records was released in 2015 and immediately went to No. 12 in the Classical Charts. 

Benjamin plays on a Giovanni Grancino from 1694 on generous loan from a Charitable Trust.

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YCA represents violinist Benjamin Baker for worldwide engagements. Please contact us for more information.