Ben Goldscheider

Ben Goldscheider is an internationally acclaimed British soloist known for his technical virtuosity and active expansion of French horn repertoire. The grandson of Czech-born composer Alexander Goldscheider, he currently holds the following prestigious roles:- Principal Horn of the West-Eastern Divan orchestra, Principal Player with Camerata Pacifica and a member of the Boulez Ensemble.

Born to professional musician parents in London in 1997, Goldscheider began playing French horn at nine years old having previously learned to play cello. The switch to a brass instrument was initially taken as a way to strengthen the young Goldscheider’s lungs after being diagnosed with Bronchiectasis, and after a slow start his progress on the instrument was remarkably rapid. At 11 Goldscheider entered the junior department at the Royal College of Music where he studied under highly-regarded horn teacher Susan Dent, and he later continued his education at the prestigious Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin with renowned hornist Radek Baborák.

In 2016, at the age of 18, Goldscheider won the Brass category and became a concerto finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. Amongst the other finalists that year were saxophonist Jess Gillam and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the eventual winner of the competition.

Since establishing himself on the international stage, Goldscheider has performed regularly as soloist, principal player and guest musician with leading orchestras and ensembles from around the world. In 2017 he was appointed Principal Horn of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, and in 2023 he joined the Southern California-based ensemble Camerata Pacifica as a Principal Player. Amongst the many other major symphonic and chamber orchestras Goldscheider has collaborated with are the Philharmonia and Hallé Orchestras, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

During the course of his career, Goldscheider has premiered more than fifty new works for French Horn including concertos and solo pieces by prominent contemporary composers. He also boasts a number of acclaimed recordings, is Professor of Horn at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp and Artist in Association at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.