Brandi Berry Benson

Violinist and 3Arts awardee Brandi Berry Benson, whose "four-string acrobatics" and "indispensable skill" (TimeOut Chicago) have been praised as "alert [and] outstanding" (Chicago Classical Review), as her "riffs.. powered by a flashing blur of bow arm, [as they] rolled out with irresistible glee" (Washington Post).  Brandi is Artistic Director of the Bach & Beethoven Experience (BBE), and has performed with numerous ensembles throughout North America including at the Library of Congress, Festival de Musica Virreinal de Durango, Mexico City’s UNAM, the Boston, Berkeley, Indianapolis, and Madison Early Music Festivals, Early Music Now, the Goodman Theater, and others. On air, she has appeared on WFMT, WGN-AM, WNUR, Chicago Irish Radio, and Wisconsin Public Radio. Brandi has also released four albums with the BBE: A Gaelic Summer (2019), An Appalachian Summer (2019), Chicago Stories (2021), and Carols (2023), as well as her own, Silver Linings (2023). In November 2023, she premiered her new work for period and indigenous instruments called The Story of Pa I Sha, based on the stories of her Chickasaw ancestors. Brandi serves on the faculty of Northwestern and DePaul Universities where she teaches courses on Baroque and Native American music. For more information: www.brandiberrybenson.com and bbexperience.org.