Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ben Fried is carving out a versatile career as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and improvisor. He is a prizewinner of the USC Bach Competition, The Eastman School of Music Concerto Competition, The Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Currently pursuing a doctorate in cello performance at the University of Southern California, he is studying under the tutelage of Andrew Shulman. Previous teachers include Timothy Eddy, Steven Doane, and Hans Jensen. In addition to interpreting already composed music, Ben frequently performs with his free improvisation duo “Derive”.