“I realized that my job is to awaken possibility in others.”

Welcome to the Benjamin Zander Center

Interpretation Classes

Unlocking musicians' capacity to move others.

Be Moved

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

Ben's musical playground for over four decades!

Take Ben's Tour into Classical Music

Thriving During COVID

Transformational stories from a year like no other.

Ben's life during COVID

Possibility

Ben and Roz Zander take you into the world of Possibility!

Discover Possibility

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

This is the place to go if you want to be inspired by what young people can accomplish.

Be Amazed

Music is Life

Listen to Ben's Introduction

Music is Life

Listen to Ben's Introduction
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Scroll to continue exploring the center or click an image to dive right in.

Interpretation Classes

Unlocking musicians' capacity to move others.

Be Moved

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

Ben's musical playground for over four decades!

Take Ben's Tour into Classical Music

Thriving During COVID

Transformational stories from a year like no other.

Ben's life during COVID

Possibility

Ben and Roz Zander take you into the world of Possibility!

Discover Possibility

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

This is the place to go if you want to be inspired by what young people can accomplish.

Be Amazed

Beethoven & Zander

View Collection>

Mahler & Zander

View Collection>

Over twenty million people have seen Ben's TED Talk. Have you?

Watch it now

The Daily Life of Possibility

An opportunity to hear the latest news from Ben, and to respond to him. This is a forum for an exchange of ideas.
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Benjamin Zander
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This is what the second harpist of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra wrote on her audition form in answer to the question: WHY DO YOU WANT TO PLAY IN THE BOSTON PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRA. She is 16 years old and a wonderful harpist.
 
Despite the many insights I gained throughout the year, I will never forget the moment when I came to truly understand what it means to play in an orchestra,...

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What's New

Read the latest news and reviews
Article
Boston Philharmonic Orchestra presents an emotional, exhilarating evening with unexpectedly tender conclusions
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Article
BPO Memorializes Roz Zander
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Article
Zander leads the Boston Philharmonic in an evening of big works and intense emotion
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Article
Zander & BPYO Elevate Wagner, Hindemith, and Brahms
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Ben's Highlights

Experiences Ben would like to share with you
Article
BPO 2022 - 2023 Season Brochure
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Article
BPYO 2022 Greece Tour - Closing Thoughts and White Sheets
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Article
BPYO - Final Class - Recap
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Article
Why Was BPYO Tour So Special?
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Essentials

34:15
This Is The Most Important Piece Of Music Ever Written
Video
37:50
Haydn: Cello Concerto no. 2 - 1st and 2nd movements
Interpretation Class
1:19:55
Bruckner: Symphony no. 5 - Ben's favorite masterwork explanation!
Lecture
49:25
Brahms: Symphony no. 1
Live Performance
15:16
Rieding: Violin Concerto no. 2 (An Exploration of Love)
Interpretation Class
51:57
Beethoven: Cello Sonata no. 3 - 1st mvt
Interpretation Class
1:19:00
Mahler: Symphony no. 4 - Ben unlocks its mysteries!
Lecture
38:02
Elgar: Cello Concerto - 1st movement
Interpretation Class
58:37
Beethoven: Symphony no. 9 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
25:09
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto - 1st movement
Interpretation Class

"All of his life, Ben Zander has been an engine for inspiration” — Yo-Yo Ma

Enter the Zander Experience

2021 - 2022 Concerts

2:23:58
Mahler: Symphony no. 3 (BPO)
Live Performance
2:17:50
Bruckner: Symphony no. 8 (BPO)
Live Performance
2:22:42
Mendelssohn - Prokofiev - Brahms (BPO)
Live Performance
1:58:37
Barber - Mozart - Mahler (BPYO)
Live Performance
2:18:47
Mussorgsky - Shostakovich - Beethoven
Live Performance
2:01:21
Ravel - Elgar - Shostakovich (BPYO)
Live Performance

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

Listen to Ben’s own orchestra in a wide range of repertoire
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42:02
Dvořák: Symphony no. 7
Live Performance
17:20
Kodály: Dances of Galánta
Live Performance
49:25
Brahms: Symphony no. 1
Live Performance
7:42
Beethoven: Coriolan Overture
Live Performance
37:04
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Live Performance
41:05
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
Live Performance
1:09:00
Bruckner: Symphony no. 5 (Boston Philharmonic Orchestra)
Live Performance
58:17
Mahler: Symphony no. 4 (Boston Philharmonic Orchestra)
Live Performance

Interpretation Classes

Get to the very heart of Ben’s teaching
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35:00
Schubert: Song "Du bist die Ruh”
Interpretation Class
21:38
Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto no. 3 - 1st movement
Interpretation Class
22:58
Bach: Prelude, Fugue and Allegro - 1st movement
Interpretation Class
24:47
Brahms: Viola Sonata - 1st movement
Interpretation Class
25:27
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto - 1st movement
Interpretation Class
16:31
Bach: Cello Suite no. 1 - Prelude
Interpretation Class
30:15
Beethoven: Cello Sonata no. 4 - 1st movement
Interpretation Class

Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

Click here to listen to one of America's finest youth orchestras!
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49:20
Shostakovich: Symphony no. 5
Commercial Recording
1:20:17
Mahler: Symphony no. 6 (Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
3:44
Elgar: Enigma Variations - Nimrod
Live Performance
1:34:48
Mahler: Symphony no. 2
Live Performance
11:46
Chaminade: Concertino for Flute
Live Performance
26:57
Debussy: La Mer
Live Performance
19:03
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet (BPYO)
Live Performance
5:46
Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila - Overture
Live Performance
6:39
Dvořák: From the Bohemian Forest - Silent Woods
Live Performance
19:30
Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe - Suite no. 2
Live Performance

Philharmonia Orchestra

Listen to Ben's recordings with one of the world's great orchestras!
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30:20
Beethoven: Symphony no. 5 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
38:45
Beethoven: Symphony no. 7 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
58:37
Beethoven: Symphony no. 9 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
1:08:56
Bruckner: Symphony no. 5 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
16:23
Mahler: Songs of a Wayfarer (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
52:09
Mahler: Symphony no. 1 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
1:29:35
Mahler: Symphony no. 2 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
1:39:42
Mahler: Symphony no. 3 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
58:27
Mahler: Symphony no. 4 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
1:08:09
Mahler: Symphony no. 5 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
1:26:58
Mahler: Symphony no. 6 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording
1:27:14
Mahler: Symphony no. 9 (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Commercial Recording

Listening Guides

Ben’s guide for music lovers and newcomers to classical music
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15:03
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Concert Talk
2:39:57
Beethoven: Symphony no. 9
Lecture
4:00 min. read
Tempo in Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony
Essay
9:23
Bruckner: Symphony no. 9
Concert Talk
3:50
Ravel: Rhapsodie Espagnole
Interview
1:02:04
Mahler: Symphony no. 1
Lecture
7:24
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde - Prelude and Liebestod
Concert Talk
5:00 min. read
Beethoven: Tempo Markings - A Note from the Conductor
Essay

Collections

We have gathered performances and teachings in different Collections to make it easy for you to find what draws you
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BPYO South Africa Tour 2023
Collection
A Tour of Possibility: BPYO goes to Greece
Collection
Petrushka Explained for a 10-Year-Old
Collection
Ben's Life
Collection
Possibility in Action
Collection
BPYO during COVID
Collection
Lessons for Life - Season Six
Collection
Beethoven: Symphony no. 9
Collection
Mahler & Zander
Collection
Interviews and Presentations
Collection
Documentaries
Collection

Bringing Dreams to Newcastle

"I had no idea that this classical music sh*t was about my life”

— A BBC cameraman, after filming Ben’s Masterclasses in Newcastle

Read Essay

Everything on the website is contained in the Library. Start searching!

Beethoven Mahler Viola Video Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Cello Brahms Tchaikovsky Boston Philharmonic Orchestra Performances Audio Interviews Concert Talks Interpretation Classes Clarinet Concertos Oboe Bruckner Listening Guides
Check Out The Library

Connect with Ben

Submit a Letter

Share your comments, write a letter, or ask Ben a question

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Attend an Event

Attend a concert, talk, or class!

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See What's New

View current media coverage, concert reviews, and read Ben's blog posts

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