Ben Flocks

Education

MA, Music Education, San José State University
BFA, Jazz Performance, The New School University
Alumni of Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program

Ben Flocks is a saxophonist and storyteller with a clear, warm, and purposeful voice. A veteran performer and educator, Flocks has been lucky to play with luminaries in jazz and beyond, including Dave Brubeck, Patrice Rushen, Antonio Sanchez, and Jumaane Smith. His 2019 release Mask of the Muse features Flocks’ rendition of “Ebb Tide” which has been streamed more than twenty-five million times and went viral on TikTok. In 2023, Flocks performed on pianist and composer Kris Bowers’ Grammy-nominated score for The Color Purple.

Flocks’ diverse credits as a performing and recording artist stand proudly in tandem with his resume as an educator. He holds a MA in Music Education from San José State University and a BFA from the New School in New York. He currently serves on faculty at Glendale Community College, Harvard-Westlake School, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. Through his inclusive educational philosophy emphasizing focused listening and peer-mentorship, Flocks works to build relationships, open minds, and foster ideas that carry weight far beyond the classroom.