John Benz

was born in London but received his musical education in Australia and Germany. After completing his Honours Degree with Kurt Hess at the University of Adelaide and chamber music studies with the Australian String Quartet in Adelaide, he continued his studies in Europe, receiving a German Music Performance Diploma at the Freiburg Staatliche Musikhochschule. He also participated in music courses in Europe for Cello and Chamber music with world renowned artists such as Anner Bylsma, Janos Starker, Rainer Kussmaul and the Cleveland String Quartet. In Australia he was a member of the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra and was a founding member of the Adelaide Cello Ensemble. He has recorded several CDs in Australia, and more recently in Stuttgart with the Odeon String Quartet. Concert Tours have lead him through Europe, Russia, Korea and the USA. He holds teaching positions at music schools in South Germany. Currently he plays with the Dijon Opera Orchestra in France. Since 2002 he is artistic director of the Flavigny Music festival in Burgundy.