bengaren

ABOUT

I'm a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with a B.A. Degree in Humanities/Fine Arts with areas of concentration in music, art, and English. Raised in a musical family, (my parents are both retired music teachers), I learned violin at age 4, took piano lessons for a summer as a youngster at UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso), and studied cello from age 9 to 13. My cello studies included private lessons from the El Paso Symphony Orchestra's First Cellist; 2 summers at Interlochen summer music camp in Michigan; and 2 years at a the Schweinfurt Musikschule in Schweinfurt, Germany. While sttending 6th grade in a private Episcopalian school, I played cello and recorder with an early music consort performing authentic Baroque-period music from the court of King Henry VIII, the creator of the Episcopalian (Anglican) church. These Baroque-influenced motifs often find their way into my heavier, "Iron Maiden" sounding compositions.

While living in El Paso as a youngster, I also sang with the El Paso Boys' Choir and performed with them and with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra in their rendition of "Carmina Burana," a powerful choral piece later made famous in the Arnald Schwartzenegger movie "Conan the Barbarian."

During that same time, I performed with the El Paso Gilbert and Sullivan acting company in their productions of "The Sorcerer" and "The Gondoliers." At the time I was the youngest member of the troupe. I also performed in a production of "Fiddler on the Roof."

I switched from cello to guitar in high school, and taught myself basic guitar chords and techniques with the help of a Jimi Hendrix song-book. I've played both keyboards and guitars with various soul, top-40, blues, rock, and heavy metal bands.

Note: All of my songs are copyrighted and I am a member of ASCAP.

Screen name:: bengaren
Member since:: Apr 05 2016; Active within 1 month
Level of commitment:: Just for Fun
Years playing music:: 45
Gigs played:: Over 100
Tend to practice:: More than 3 times per week

Influences

Michael Schenker, Adrian Smith, Dave Murrey, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, Neal Schon, Alex Lifeson, Allen Holdsworth, Jan Hammer, Ray Charles, Rush, Scorpions, Journey, Deep Purple, UFO, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, etc.

Instrument experience:

Background Singer:: Advanced
Cello:: Advanced
Vocalist - Tenor:: Advanced
Rhythm Guitar:: Advanced
Lead Guitar:: Advanced
Acoustic Guitar:: Advanced
Bass Guitar:: Advanced
Keyboard:: Advanced
Piano:: Moderate
Vocalist:: Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Roland RD-700 keyboard, Roland Juno DS61 synthesizer, 2 Fender Stratocaster Players with Floyd Rose tremolo systems, Sunfield "Soul" LP-style gold top guitar, Yamaha Pacifica 012DLX guitar, Fender Squire Jazz bass guitar, Ibanez Talman electric/acoustic guitar, Marshall JVM410H 100W amp, Marshall TSL 2000 100W guitar amp, Marshall 1960A&B 4x12 speaker cabs, Marshall DSL40C 40W combo guitar amp, Crate Palamino V32 32W tube guitar amp, Ampeg 40W bass amp combo, Donner Arena 2000 amp modeling processor, Alesis Surge E-drum kit, 6 Behringer Ultravoice XM1800S Dynamic Cardioid Vocal and Instrument Mics, Sennheiser Evolution vocal mic, Sure SM57 instrument mic, Roland KC-100 4-channel keyboard/vocal amp, Rockville RPM109 12 Channel 4800w Powered Mixer/PA system.