Ben Lougheed

Described as creating “music of dramatic power and lyric beauty,” Dr. Ben Lougheed knows how to draw in audiences and give them “another dimension in which to enjoy [his] performances.” A performer, entrepreneur, and pedagogue in his multifaceted career, Ben’s diverse professional experiences include over ten years of performances, community engagement, music entrepreneurship, and teaching. Audiences, colleagues, and critics have repeatedly referred to Ben as “an emerging force in the classical guitar world,” with “beautiful” and “extremely precise” playing.

A central thread to all of Ben’s work is his focus on education and outreach. His desire to engage audiences and communities through vivid and captivating musical performances is only strengthened by his love of connecting with his audience through informative exchanges. These lively audience-performer interactions serve to strengthen each person’s experience with the music and have been enthusiastically received by concertgoers around the country, including recent performances for the Treasure Coast Guitar Society, Kerrytown Concert House, and the Dale Mabry Guitar Series.

Ben is also a highly sought-after and accomplished teacher who has built one of the largest Suzuki guitar studios in the Southeastern United States. As the only guitarist in the world with a doctorate and all nine Suzuki book certifications, Ben is in demand as a guest instructor at events across the country. His students have been selected for the All-State and All-National ensembles and won prizes at multiple guitar competitions.

Ben’s creative fingerprints can be seen all around his community via his numerous projects and collaborations. As the founder and director of the Florida Guitar Festival, Ben has raised over $65,000 to bring together hundreds of burgeoning musicians and students for educational activities, concerts, and competitions. Additionally, Ben’s work with the festival included a collaboration with GRAMMY-winner Bill Kanengiser on the first recorded performance of Sergio Assad’s piece, “The Walls.” Furthermore, Ben’s community engagement includes being a Founder and Director of the Tallahassee Chapter of Classical Revolution, a classical music outreach organization that produced dozens of classical music concerts in non-traditional venues.

Ben’s debut album, Baroque Legacies, showcases music by influential and celebrated Baroque composers parallel with contemporary pieces inspired by these historic paragons of the music world. Described as “emotionally delicious from start to finish” and “technically perfect,” this recording provides a glimpse into how lyrical beauty is pervasive through time.