About

He is currently an Academic Advisor and Instructor of Saxophone in the College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte, and a member of the teaching and performance faculty at the Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy. He has held previous teaching positions at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Catawba Valley Community College, UNC School of the Arts, and Texas Tech University.

An avid chamber music advocate, Ben is a founding member of Mirasol Quartet, which has won numerous national chamber music competitions, including the Gold Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, first place in the American Prize Chamber Music Competition, and Grand Prize in the ENKOR Chamber Music Competition. An outgrowth of the quartet is Mirasol Duo, with saxophonist Dr. James Barger, which performs across the country at universities and public schools, presenting clinics and engaging recitals. Passionate about new music, Ben has helped commission new works for saxophone by composers such as Carlos Simon, Guillermo Lago, Gabriela Ortiz, Joel Love, Beljinder Sekhon, Mischa Zupko, Jenni Watson, and Martin Bresnick.

As a soloist, Ben was a national finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Solo Competition and the winner of the Texas Tech University Concerto Competition. He has performed extensively at events such as North American Saxophone Alliance conferences, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the International Saxophone Symposium, and the Texas Music Educators Association Conference. He has also performed with professional organizations, including the Western Piedmont Symphony, Piedmont Wind Symphony, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, and the Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz and commercial musician, he has performed in ensembles featuring artists like Rodney Booth, Steve Lippia, John Riley, and Bill Watrous.

Dr. Still holds a DMA and MM in Performance from Texas Tech University, where he studied concert saxophone with David Dees and jazz improvisation and arranging with Stephen Jones. Prior to moving to Texas, he received his BM in Performance from UNC Charlotte, where he studied with Dr. Will Campbell and graduated summa cum laude. He is also an inaugural member of UNC Charlotte’s College of Arts + Architecture Honors Program.

Professionally, Ben is affiliated with Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the College Music Society, and the North American Saxophone Alliance. He is a Conn-Selmer Artist/Clinician and performs exclusively on Selmer Paris saxophones. Ben lives in Charlotte, NC, with his wife, Jess, and their three lovely pets.