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Concert Band · Jazz · Musical Theatre · Drum & Bugle Corps

Ben Claps

Baritone Saxophone · Woodwind & Brass Doubles

Baritone saxophone specialist and versatile multi-instrumentalist — equally at home in concert halls, jazz ensembles, musical theatre pits, and drum corps fields across the country.

Chicago, IL & Nationwide
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Ben Claps

Artist Summary

A baritone saxophone specialist & versatile multi-instrumentalist

Ben Claps is a saxophonist from the Northwest Chicago suburbs who specializes in the Baritone Saxophone and performs professionally on all saxophones. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from Ball State University, where he performed in the Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, and Saxophone Ensemble under nationally recognized faculty.

Ben's woodwind doubles include Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Bassoon, while his brass doubles span Tuba, Euphonium, and Trombone — bringing rare breadth to concert, theatrical, and marching settings alike.

Highlights include performing with the Bands of America Honor Band in the Rose Parade 2022, serving as an inaugural member of the Encore Wind Symphony, earning First Alternate to the National Intercollegiate Band, and competing with drum and bugle corps including River City Rhythm, the Spartans, Elevate Winds, and Chromium Winds.

B.M. — Ball State University Saxophone Performance
Woodwind & Brass Doubles Clarinet · Bass Clarinet · Bassoon · Tuba · Euphonium · Trombone
Rose Parade 2022 Bands of America Honor Band · Pasadena, CA
National Intercollegiate Band First Alternate · Baritone Saxophone

Instruments & Skills

Instruments & doubles

A comprehensive multi-instrumentalist spanning woodwind and brass families — from baritone saxophone to bassoon, tuba to trombone.

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Baritone Saxophone

Primary instrument and specialty. Extensive concert, jazz, and chamber training in the low saxophone voice — from large wind ensemble to small saxophone quartet and musical theatre.

PrimaryConcertJazzMusical Theatre
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All Saxophones

Performs professionally on the full saxophone family — soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass — across concert, jazz, chamber, and orchestral settings.

SopranoAltoTenorBass
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Woodwind Doubles

Doubles on clarinet, bass clarinet, and bassoon — bringing the full lower woodwind range to concert hall, pit orchestra, and chamber settings.

ClarinetBass ClarinetBassoon
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Brass Doubles

Proficient on tuba, euphonium, and trombone — extending versatility into the brass family for marching band, drum corps, and large ensemble performance.

TubaEuphoniumTrombone
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Sight-Reading & Chart Work

Strong sight-reading ability developed through years of ensemble performance across concert band, jazz, orchestral, and theatrical settings. Comfortable with complex rhythmic figures and mixed meter.

Sight-ReadingMixed MeterCharts
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Drum & Bugle Corps

Competitive drum corps experience with River City Rhythm, the Spartans, Elevate Winds, and Chromium Winds — performing on euphonium, tuba, soprano saxophone, and baritone saxophone.

MarchingCorpsIndoor Winds

Performance Credits

Ensemble & performance history

A comprehensive record of performances spanning concert ensembles, jazz, musical theatre, marching band, and competitive drum and bugle corps.

Production / Ensemble Role / Chair Company / Institution Type
Bands of America Honor BandNational Baritone Saxophone · Rose Parade 2022 Bands of America · Pasadena, CA National Broadcast
Encore Wind SymphonyInaugural Baritone Saxophone Encore Wind Symphony · 2021 Concert Ensemble
National Intercollegiate Band1st Alt. Baritone Saxophone National Intercollegiate Band Concert Ensemble
Indiana Intercollegiate Band Baritone Saxophone Indiana Intercollegiate Band Concert
Ball State Wind Symphony Baritone Saxophone · Alto Saxophone Ball State University School of Music Concert
Ball State Wind Ensemble Baritone Saxophone · Bass Saxophone · Tenor Saxophone Ball State University School of Music Concert
Ball State Jazz Ensemble Baritone Saxophone · Bass Clarinet Ball State University School of Music Jazz
Ball State Orchestra Tuba · All Saxophones · Clarinet · Bass Clarinet Ball State University School of Music Orchestral
Huntley H.S. Wind & Jazz Ensembles Baritone Saxophone Huntley High School, Huntley, IL Concert
Quasar Saxophone Quartet Baritone Saxophone Ball State University Chamber
Ball State Saxophone Ensemble Bass Saxophone · Soprano Saxophone · Baritone Saxophone Ball State University Chamber
McHenry County College Recital Bassoon McHenry County College Recital
Anything GoesMusical Baritone Saxophone · Bass Clarinet · Bassoon Musical Theatre Production Musical Theatre
State FairMusical Clarinet · Tenor Saxophone Musical Theatre Production Musical Theatre
River City RhythmCorps Euphonium River City Rhythm Drum & Bugle Corps Drum Corps
SpartansCorps Tuba Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps Drum Corps
Elevate WindsIndoor Soprano Saxophone · Tuba Elevate Winds Indoor Winds
Chromium WindsIndoor Baritone Saxophone Chromium Winds Indoor Winds
Pride of Mid-America Marching Band Tenor Saxophone Pride of Mid-America Marching Band
Huntley H.S. Marching Band Alto Saxophone · Baritone Saxophone Huntley High School, Huntley, IL Marching Band

Credits updated continuously as new engagements are completed. Last updated May 2026.

Education & Training

Rigorously trained across woodwind & brass.

Four years of university-level saxophone study at Ball State, combined with drum corps discipline, intercollegiate competition, and wide-ranging ensemble experience across concert, jazz, theatrical, and marching settings.

B.M.
Bachelor of Music — Ball State
10+
Instruments Performed
20+
Ensembles & Productions
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Ball State University · Muncie, IN

Bachelor of Music — Saxophone Performance

Four years of intensive study at Ball State's nationally recognized School of Music. Performed in Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, and Saxophone Ensemble — developing broad ensemble experience across classical, jazz, and orchestral literature on baritone, alto, tenor, bass saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, and tuba.

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Rose Parade · Pasadena, CA · 2022

Bands of America Honor Band

Selected to represent the Bands of America Honor Band in the iconic Rose Parade — a nationally televised performance in Pasadena, California. A testament to preparation, ensemble discipline, and the ability to perform at the highest level on a national stage.

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Drum & Bugle Corps · Nationwide

Competitive Corps Experience

Performed with River City Rhythm (Euphonium), Spartans (Tuba), Elevate Winds (Soprano Saxophone / Tuba), and Chromium Winds (Baritone Saxophone) — developing elite marching, visual, and musical skills demanded by the competitive drum corps and indoor winds circuit.

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Huntley High School · Huntley, IL

Foundational Training & Encore Wind Symphony

Built a strong musical foundation through Huntley High School's Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band. Continued as an inaugural member of the Encore Wind Symphony in 2021 — marking the transition from student to professional performing musician.

Repertoire

Performance experience & repertoire

A selection of ensembles and productions spanning concert band, jazz, musical theatre, drum corps, and chamber performance — reflecting the full breadth of Ben's experience.

Concert Band & Wind Ensemble

  • Ball State Wind Symphony — Baritone & Alto Saxophone
  • Ball State Wind Ensemble — Baritone, Bass & Tenor Saxophone
  • Indiana Intercollegiate Band — Baritone Saxophone
  • National Intercollegiate Band — Baritone Saxophone (1st Alternate)
  • Encore Wind Symphony — Baritone Saxophone
  • Huntley H.S. Wind Ensemble — Baritone Saxophone

Jazz

  • Ball State Jazz Ensemble — Baritone Saxophone
  • Ball State Jazz Ensemble — Bass Clarinet
  • Huntley H.S. Jazz Ensemble — Baritone Saxophone
  • Big Band & Swing Literature
  • Contemporary Jazz Charts

Musical Theatre

  • Anything Goes — Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon
  • State Fair — Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone

Drum Corps & Indoor Winds

  • River City Rhythm D&BC — Euphonium
  • Spartans D&BC — Tuba
  • Elevate Winds — Soprano Saxophone, Tuba
  • Chromium Winds — Baritone Saxophone
  • Pride of Mid-America Marching Band — Tenor Saxophone
  • Huntley H.S. Marching Band — Alto & Baritone Saxophone

Woodwind Doubles

  • Ball State Orchestra — Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
  • Anything Goes Pit — Bass Clarinet, Bassoon
  • State Fair Pit — Clarinet
  • McHenry County College Recital — Bassoon
  • Concert Band Clarinet & Bass Clarinet Literature

Chamber & Recital

  • Quasar Saxophone Quartet — Baritone Saxophone
  • Ball State Saxophone Ensemble — Bass, Soprano & Baritone Saxophone
  • McHenry County College Recital — Bassoon
  • Ball State Orchestra — Tuba, All Saxophones, Clarinet

Submit Materials

Ready for your next production.

Casting for a pit orchestra, Broadway tour, or regional theatre production? Use the form to reach out directly. Ben is available for auditions, contractor inquiries, and sub calls — locally in Chicago and nationally.

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Chicago & Northwest Suburbs, IL — Travel Nationwide
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[email protected]
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(555) 000-0000
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Baritone Sax · All Saxophones · Clarinet · Bass Clarinet · Bassoon · Tuba · Euphonium · Trombone
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Resume & recordings available on request
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