Ben Bridges
Cello
My musical pursuits began in Philadelphia, PA with guitar lessons in the 3rd grade. By high school, I was playing saxophone and clarinet in the marching and stage bands. I went on to major in Music Education at West Chester University, and Classical Guitar Performance at Temple University.
From 1975 to 1992, I was based in Los Angeles and worked as a full-time touring and session guitarist with Stevie Wonder. Through my association with Stevie, I was also called on to record guitar tracks or share the stage with other well-known artists of that era.
After exiting the world of the touring musician, I settled down and turned a hobby into a new career by re-educating myself to write commercial computer software. Over the next 20 years, I held software engineering positions with 3 US companies, the last of which was Tyler Technologies here in Maine.
What about the cello? In 2010, after attending an open rehearsal of the Portland Symphony, I was inspired to take up the cello (much harder than I expected!) with the goal of reviving my classical training and becoming an orchestral musician. A year later I was accepted as a cellist with the Southern Maine Symphony, where I completed 10 wonderful seasons before coming on board with the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra in 2021. Beyond my MSO activities, I enjoy playing cello for weddings, musicals, and special events.
