Years before beginning his application to Deerfield Academy, pianist and cellist Ben Wolfson ’24 caught the attention of Director of Music Tom Bergeron as a contestant in the Rhodes Concert to Competition. The competition was open to musicians in sixth to twelfth grade and was hosted by Maestro Kevin Rhodes, the former music director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO). Mr. Bergeron, the principal trumpetist of the SSO and one of the judges for the competition, recalled his first impression of Wolfson. “He was so poised, mature, and deep into the music, especially as a sixth grader. We were so struck.” As one of the two winners of the competition, the SSO featured Wolfson as a piano soloist. “After the concert,” Mr. Bergeron said, “I got to meet his parents backstage. That’s when I started talking to him about Deerfield.” Wolfson has been the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Deerfield Orchestra for two years and has taken the Advanced Chamber Music class for all four years. Additionally, he is one of the only musicians who has enrolled in the music co-curricular for every single term of his four years. He uses the time to practice piano and cello, which he started at ages five and nine, respectively. Regarding the pursuit of both instruments, Wolfson said, “It added a new dimension to my playing and my understanding of music.” Fellow Chamber Musician and Violinist Lynn Sung ’26 praised Wolfson’s ability to provide insight on a piece. Sung said, “Ben is a very thoughtful musician. Before working with him, I didn’t think deeply about music theory when I played music. I just followed my instincts or the dynamics. He has a strong sense of the flow and can incorporate theory into his planning, which I think is pretty hard to do.” On Saturdays, Wolfson attends the New England Conservatory’s (NEC) preparatory program in Boston, Massachusetts. He began attending the program in eighth grade and currently studies piano privately under the tutelage of Natalia Harlap. Regarding the switch to a teacher at NEC, he said, “I’ve been going on the path of becoming a much more mature and sensitive musician.” Additionally, he rehearses with his chamber group and plays cello in the orchestra at NEC. Each summer, Wolfson attends the Greenwood Music Camp for five weeks of intensive chamber music study. “Greenwood is a place that is very special to me,” he said. “We’re assigned a new group and a new piece every week. We learn in five days and perform it. I think that format really encourages a lot of very passionate, intense, and committed work. You can’t get away with slacking off.” Since the age of ten, Wolfson has returned every summer to Greenwood except during the pandemic. He cited Greenwood as one of his primary motivators to continue music and said, “The passion and the inspiration that you can get from playing music and listening to music is really motivating, even if there are times when it is difficult to find motivation. It can be comforting.” Deb Sherr, former director of the Senior Camp division of Greenwood and current cello instructor at Deerfield, recalled being overcome with emotion at Wolfson’s musical abilities. “I was bowled over by his incredible musicality,” she said. “It brought tears to my eyes. As he’s grown as a musician, [his musicality has] only been amplified now that he has such capacity as a player. Even as a young person, he has a deep musical sense which somebody either has or they don’t have, but Ben has it.” Along with an academic major, Wolfson plans to pursue a double-major in piano performance and play cello in his university’s orchestra. Upon reflecting on his musical and personal growth, he recalled, “In the music I’ve played, there’s always the potential to make something more special and more creative. That’s something that as I’ve matured as a musician, I’ve come to appreciate more and more.”