BEN CARROLL, HORN

Ben Carroll is a distinguished hornist and music educator based in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the 2nd Horn in the Plano Symphony Orchestra and Principal Horn of the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, Ben has performed with a variety of esteemed ensembles across Texas, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Opera Orchestra, the Dallas Chamber Symphony, and the Dallas Winds. His passion for chamber music is evident through his engagements with the Plano Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Quintet and the Imperial Brass. He has also participated in festivals such as the Cactus Pear Music Festival, Taoyuan Band Festival, the Hot Springs Music Festival, and the Miami Music Festival.

A Texan through and through, Ben earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied under Professor Patrick Hughes. He currently serves as a Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas, where he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) under the guidance of Dr. Stacie Mickens, with an expected completion in 2027.

A dedicated mentor, Ben is committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. His students have achieved notable success, earning positions in TMEA All-State bands, local youth orchestras, top drum corps, and collegiate music programs. Ben is also a member of the brass instructional staff for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps.