Ben Ullery

Viola

Principal

John Connell Chair

Member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2010

Praised by the Chicago Tribune for his “febrile intensity,” violist Ben Ullery enjoys a multifaceted performing career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and educator.

In 2026, he was chosen by Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel for the position of Principal Viola of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition to his appearances with the LA Phil, Ullery has performed across the country and abroad in the role of guest principal viola with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Australian Chamber Orchestra.

An active solo performer, he has given recitals at the Colburn School; Festival Mozaic, California State University at Fullerton, La Sierra University, and ViolaFest Los Angeles, where he was the 2026 Signature Artist. He gave the world premiere performance of Gabriella Smith’s Quantum Ptarmigan for solo viola at Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2025.

As a chamber musician, he has been in high demand in the Los Angeles area and at festivals and concert series in the US and Europe. In addition to having performed over 50 chamber works as part of the LA Phil’s chamber music series, Ullery has appeared at the Mozaic, Music in the Vineyards, Mainly Mozart, Emerald City, Music at Millford, Leksand, Jackson Hole Chamber Music, and Aspen festivals, among others. He has been featured on NPR’s Performance Today as well as in local broadcasts on KUSC in Los Angeles and Minnesota Public Radio. As a recording artist, he has performed on releases on the Bridge and Albany labels.

ben ullery performs pereira washington and mozart — Ben Ullery performs "Pereira, Washington, and Mozart: Chamber Music with the LA Phil" as part of the California Festival.

An enthusiastic teacher, Ullery is on the faculty at the Colburn School in Downtown Los Angeles, where he teaches orchestral repertoire as well as coaches the Colburn Orchestra’s viola section. Many of his former students have gone on to hold positions with top orchestras in the US, Europe, and Asia. He has given master classes at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Azusa Pacific University, California State University at Fullerton, and Shanghai Orchestra Academy.

A native of Saint Paul, MN, Ullery earned a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and later studied violin at New England Conservatory of Music and viola at the Colburn School.

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