I began studying violin at the age of five under Linda Good, Director of the Island Strings program on Whidbey Island.  I received a degree in English Literature with a minor in Music from The Colorado College where I studied with Michael Hanson and won The Colorado College concerto competition in 2003 and 2004.

In 2006 I earned a Masters degree in Violin Performance from The University of Washington where I studied with Ron Patterson (student of Jascha Heifetz, Eudice Shapiro and Manuel Compinsky and acclaimed for his “skill, authority and imagination” by the New York Times.)

I have been teaching in the Seattle area for 15 years.  I am currently First Violinist with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra and am the Director of the Halycon Strings Music School in Ballard. I have earned a reputation as an outstanding violin instructor for youth by combining my interest in children and your with my  knowledge of the Suzuki method and my own experience of learning to play violin.

Recently, as a founding member of a Seattle-based blues/funk band by the name of Stop, Thief!, I released a CD entitled Stop, Thief! You may purchase the CD online at Amazon.com or CDBaby or just listen to the recordings at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/teobenson.

In addition to the Tacoma Symphony and Stop, Thief! I perform regularly with chamber music groups in the Seattle area and am a member of the popular Seattle-based folk/rock band by the name of The Crying Shame.