Jonas Benson grew up in Duluth, MN, and began playing viola at the age of six.

Education
  • University of Minnesota - Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance,  2011
  • Northwestern University - Master of Music degree in Viola Performance, 2013
Principal Teachers
  • 2011-2013: Roland Vamos - Professor of Viola, Northwestern University
  • 2006-2011: Thomas Turner - Principal Violist, Minnesota Orchestra
  • 1995-2006: Laurie Bastian - Lake Superior Suzuki Talent Education Program
Principal Chamber Music Coaches
  • 2011-2013: Mathias Tacke - Former Second Violinist, Vermeer Quartet
  • 2011: Sally O'Reilly - Violin Faculty, University of Minnesota
  • 2010: Lydia Artymiw - Piano Faculty, University of Minnesota
  • 2008-2010: Thomas Rosenberg - Artistic Director, Fischoff Competition
Master Classes, Lessons, and Coachings
  • Michael Adams, Artaria String Quartet, Aspen Ensemble, Kurt Baldwin, Sam Bergman, Alexander Braginsky, Christopher Brown, Nancy Buck, Evelina Chao, Cliff Colnot, Christopher Costanza, Quatuor Diotima, Susan DuBois, Enso Quartet, Nina Tso-Ning Fan, Kenneth Freed, Warren Friesen, Gregory Fulkerson, Kenneth Goldsmith, Charles Gray, Gryphon Trio, Hillary Herndon, Lisa Hirschmugl, Kevin Hoeschen, Jeffrey Irvine, Mark Jackobs, Soovin Kim, Young-Nam Kim, Joshua Koestenbaum, Korey Konkol, Michelle LaCourse, Honggang Li, Ariane Liao, Douglas McNabney, Matthew Michelik, Pedja Muzijevic, Geoff Nuttall, Sally O'Reilly, Parker Quartet, Charles Pikler, William Preucil Sr., Tanya Remenikova, Karen Ritscher, Lesley Robertson, Carol Rodland, Lewis Rosove, Masumi Rostad, Scott St. John, Leslie Shank, Peter Slowik, Mark Russell Smith, Mariusz Smolij, Tamas Strasser, Takacs Quartet, Ben Ullery, Roland Vamos, Scott Wagner, Juliet White-Smith, and Annalee Wolf.

Teaching Experience
  • Students have earned principal chairs in the Duluth Superior Youth Symphony and the Minnesota Youth Symphony Orchestras
  • Coach at the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra’s “Quartet Project”
  • MusiCorps coach for Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras
  • Inveted to lead orchestra rehearsals and sectionals at University of Illinois - Chicago, Morton College, and Wheaton College
Notable Chamber Groups
  • Sheridan String Quartet - High-quality performances of string quartets in the Chicago area.
  • MusiCorps String Quintet - Programs at schools and parks around Chicago as part of MusiCorps, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago's community engagement program.
  • Aoide String Quartet - Performances in Evanston, IL and the San Francisco, CA area. Participation in the St. Lawrence String Quartet's Chamber Music Seminar at Stanford University.
  • Gavia String Quartet – Concerts and events including the Schubert Club’s “Courtroom Concert” series
  • Allegro String Quartet – Concerts and events in Duluth, MN
  • Recent collaboration with musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and faculty at Northwestern University.
  • Appearances with Gabriel, Lachen, and Zene String Quartets, and International Chamber Artists
Orchestral Experience (*Denotes principal experience)
  • Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra - 2013-present
  • *Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra - 2007-present
  • *42nd Parallel (conductorless chamber orchestra) - 2013-present
  • *Civic Orchestra of Chicago - 2011-2013, principal violist 2012-2013
  • *Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra - 2011-2013
  • *University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra - 2007-2011
  • *University of Wisconsin – Superior Orchestra - 2005-2007
  • Appearances with many other ensembles including the New World Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists, *Bloomington Civic Theatre, and Exultate
 Awards
  • Schubert Club Scholarship Competition - Thelma Hunter Scholarship
  • Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition - 2nd place, College Strings Division (twice)
  • Chester E. and Marion D. Groth Scholarship – University of Minnesota
  • Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition - 2nd place
  • William Hester Memorial Scholarship
  • Minnesota State Fair County Fair Talent Contest - Teen Division Champion with Allegro String Quartet