Ben Wahlund

Ben Wahlund

Ben Wahlund is an internationally award-winning music composer, music educator, and performer of percussion. With bachelor degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, as well as a Master's Degree in Music Theory and Composition and a Performance Certificate in percussion from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, Ben Wahlund has seen success as a musician on a number of fronts since the early 1990's.

As a composer, Mr. Wahlund's works have been performed in the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, Poland, Japan, Australia, France, Taiwan, China, and most recently, Jordan. Additionally, his compositions have placed twice in the Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest, first place for the Quey Percussion Duo Annual Composition Contest, first place in the international Methanex "Symphony and Steel Composition Contest" for a concerto for steel pan and orchestra, and second place in the Keystone Composition Contest.

Ben Wahlund is the Assistant Director of the Birch Creek Music Center Percussion Session, in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, as well as a private teacher and adjudicator in the Naperville, Illinois area and serves as adjunct faculty in music theory, percussion pedagogy, composition/orchestration and music education at North Central College, in Naperville, IL.

Ben Wahlund also serves as the director of percussion at Naperville Central High School, where the high school percussion ensemble's concert Drumshow consistently performs to capacity crowds of over 2,500 people. Additionally, Ben has designed and is director of the District 203 Riverwalk Percussion Camp.

His performance history involves successful performances in all aspects of percussion throughout the United States as well as Europe, including the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Elmhurst Jazz Festival, two Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, a number of state Days of Percussion, and the Illinois Music Educators Association State Convention.

His effective and engaging teaching has earned him two Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Education, a number of citations as outstanding studio staff member at NCHS, a nomination for the Disney Excellence in Education Award, and, most importantly, a roster of tremendously successful students.

Ben Wahlund endorses Sabian Cymbals, Remo Percussion, and Innovative Percussion Drumsticks and Mallets. Mr. Wahlund's work is published exclusively by HoneyRock Publications and lives in the Chicago area with his wife, Jennifer, and two dogs, Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker.