About Me
Ben Woolman is hailed as one of the Midwest's leading finger-style guitarists. His music can be heard around the world on cable radio in the US, Japan, Italy, China, Australia, Indonesia, Malta, Germany, and among programming for Minnesota and National Public Radio. He has been a guest columnist for Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine and Guitar Teacher Magazine, contributed music to various film soundtracks, and has 8 recordings, solo and compilations, credited to date. Mr. Woolman holds a BFA in Guitar Performance, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin/Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Cooperative Guitar Program, Milwaukee, WI.
For over ten years, Ben has performed across the US in theaters, folk
festivals, coffeehouses, colleges, house concerts, weddings, corporate
functions, and formal recitals. Highlights include sharing the stage with
some of the artists who continue to inspire him including: Billy McLaughlin,
Pat Donohue, Dan Schwartz, Dean Magraw, Tim Sparks, Phil Heywood, and
Claudia Schmidt.
His engaging, high energy, performances cover a diverse musical terrain including: American blues, folk, Latin, Jazz, Celtic, Classical, and African music as well as his own brand of catchy, introspective compositions. Ben is often described as having a melodic gift with composition that fuses elements of both "rootsy" and contemporary finger-style playing with a pop songwriter's crafty sensibility. He effortlessly moves from genre to genre keeping his audiences guessing and engaged. The influence of his early folk days is very prominent in his stage presence as he balances his virtuosic technique and intensity with humor and story telling which compliment the music. "Very inspiring!" is a common refrain one often hears after a Ben Woolman concert.
Ben Woolman lives in St. Paul, MN where he works as a composer, performer, teacher, and writer.
"Woolman excels when he plays solo on his captivating, intimate
and melancholic compositions. The album, Wisdom / Delusion, reflects a
master of finger-style playing." - Bridge Guitar Reviews
"Besides the obvious attention to craft evident in his playing skills Ben
considers what he does an art form, and it shows. Regardless of the style
of music, he manages to put his own personal stamp on it. That he’s a
sincerely pleasant and positive young man with a ready smile doesn’t hurt
any either. As a concert venue we appreciate that the audience enjoyed the
person as well as the performance. A pleasure to work with and we’re
hopeful to get him back." - Mike Linderman, Songbird Café, Custer, SD
"A warm, crisp sound and clever, tight writing, clearly establish
Woolman as a young guitarist to be reckoned with." - Guitar Fingerstyle:
A Narada Collection
