Ben studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and earned his Solo Diploma cum laude for bass trombone in 1980. He was the first trombonist in Holland to receive a Diploma as bass trombonist and since then it is possible to study bass trombone at all conservatories in the Netherlands. He then continued his study in Los Angeles with Jeff Reynolds and Roger Bobo. Besides these two great players and teachers, the recordings of Edward Kleinhammer with the Chicago Symphony and George Robert's studio recordings had a great influence on Ben's development as a bass trombonist.

He thinks it is very important to listen to as much different music styles as possible and not only to trombone music. Besides his daily work he likes to listen to and play in: flamenco, pop groups, jazz ensembles and all sort of chamber music.

His all favourite musicians are: Maurice Andrè, Michel Becquet, Valery Gergiev, Placido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, El Camaron de la Isla and Paco de Lucia.

In 1976 he was appointed as bass trombonist with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. After being for 23 years the bass trombonist of this orchestra, Ben will switch to an other orchestra in September 1998. Asked by chiefconductor, Valery Gergiev and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, he will join their forces as solo bass trombonist from September 1998 and use his experience to bring this young, very potential low brass section to the top. Ben will also be reunited with his friend and great tubaist, Hendrik Jan Renes. He plays regularly with the Netherlands Wind Ensemble and the Dutch Jazz Orchestra and is also active in the free lance world. After being professor at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam he will also change schools in September 1998 and will teach from that time on at the Rotterdam Conservatory.

He was invited as teacher and soloist to the International Trombone Festival in Detmold in 1992, the ITF in Cleveland in 1994, the Budapest International Brass Festival in 1996 and the Rencontres Internationales de Cuivre in Lille (France) in 1997. Also in 1997 he performed as soloist with the Brandenburger Symphoniker in a program with bass and baritone arias from Russian and Italian operas transcribed for bass trombone. In Feb. 1998 Ben made a two weeks master classes and recitals tour visiting some important Universities in the USA like, Julliard School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Rice University and University of North Texas. The leading trombonists of the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Symphony and the Houston Symphony invited him for this tour.

Ben has been president of the Internationale Posaunen Vereinigung from 1995 untill 1998 and is a member of the board of devisors of the International Trombone Association. Ben likes to dedicate his career to his father, who has been of great influence during his entire career.

Ben plays exclusively Max & Heinrich Thein bass(contrabass)trombones.