Benjamin Ellis is a classical guitarist and dedicated teaching artist with over a decade of experience in higher education. He holds a Master’s degree in Music from Syracuse University and has served on the faculties of Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Onondaga Community College, where he has taught individual lessons, chamber ensembles, and classroom-based courses in music.​

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In addition to his academic work, Benjamin is the founder and director of The Westcott Music Collective, a community-based music studio offering private instruction to students of all ages and backgrounds. His students have gone on to pursue music at major universities including Berklee College of Music and Syracuse University. He also serves as President of the Great Lakes Guitar Society, an organization devoted to fostering community through the arts and providing free educational programming to the public.

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Benjamin’s teaching philosophy combines technical rigor with expressive freedom, encouraging students to develop not only their instrumental skills but also their musical identity. Through his work, he strives to create inclusive, supportive learning environments that inspire artistic growth and a lifelong appreciation of music.