Benjamin Barnes Violin Violinist from San Francisco, CA

As a strolling violinist and chamber musician, I have won a grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission and was a panelist for California Arts Council. I am proficient in a range of musical styles including classical, jazz, rock, and bluegrass. I have had the opportunity to perform with orchestras, rock bands, and notable musicians throughout the world my whole career. My string quartet, the Rilke String Quartet, is available for performances as a duo, trio, or full quartet. In addition to my live performances, I have a YouTube channel and website where you can learn more about my music, stars I have recorded and/or played with, and performances. I am based in San Francisco and am willing to travel up to two hours for gigs. I am also able to dress in formal wear for appropriate events. With over 30 years of experience as a musician and private music teacher, I am dedicated to providing high quality entertainment for any occasion. Whether you are looking for a stationary performance or a strolling violinist to add a lively atmosphere to your event, I am here to make your vision a reality. I am also a seasoned guitarist/singer/songwriter, and a fiddle player. I have over 120 recordings of my classical, rock, bluegrass, and jazz music which you can listen to on all streaming platforms and buy at major web-stores. My bands Swindlefish, Bencasso, Hardcore Bluegrass, The Crooner at Large, Kind of Bleu, and Stuff South of Grappelli are all available for concerts and casual gigs. I am an arts and entertainment and motivational speaker. I survived catastrophic injuries and relearned how to play music after my skull was shattered and rebuilt. I couldn't play violin, guitar, or sing for several years. I taught myself to play again and am happy I worked hard to regain my skills as a world class violinist and singer songwriter.