Guest ArtistsBen Folds

Multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter and producer Ben Folds first found mainstream success as the leader of the critically acclaimed Ben Folds Five. He has gone on to have a very successful solo career, recording multiple studio albums, a pair of records documenting his renowned live performances, a remix record, music for film and TV, as well as numerous collaborations with artists from Sara Bareilles to William Shatner.

In 2012 Mr. Folds reunited with the Ben Folds Five, released a new album and toured the world in 2012-13. In early 2013 they released their first live album. Mr. Folds returned to his solo career in 2013.

Mr. Folds has also achieved acclaim for his insight as a judge on NBC's a cappella competition, The Sing-Off, which aired for five seasons. Over the past year he’s also made cameo appearances in film and TV, including a role on Comedy Central’s Community. Additionally he has written and recorded several songs for film and TV use.

A Nashville resident, Mr. Folds owns and operates the historic RCA Studio A, once managed by Chet Atkins and the home to thousands of legendary recording sessions in all genres of music – from Elvis Presley to the Monkees, Dolly Parton to Kacey Musgraves, Tony Bennett to The Beach Boys and Brian Setzer to Hunter Hayes. The studio is Mr. Folds’ creative hub, where he composes, collaborates, produces and records his works as well as those of others in the industry.

Mr. Folds, who serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Nashville Symphony, has composed a highly acclaimed 25-minute, three movement concerto for piano and orchestra. He premiered the concerto in Nashville, and he has been performing it and other orchestrations of his pop hits with major symphonies before sold out crowds across the nation. (He will perform his concerto at the Jacobs Music Center February 6, 2016, with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra as part of the City Lights Series.) He is also touring Europe, the Pacific Rim and Australia this year.

A member of the distinguished Artist Committee for Americans for The Arts, Mr. Folds is a leading outspoken advocate for music therapy and music education, and he recently participated in a special conference at Sundance Resort hosted by Robert Redford that explored how music and art therapy can help our nation’s military veterans.

Ben Folds is also an avid photographer, whose work has been featured by Imaging Edge Magazine, National Geographic and The Weather Channel.