Kai Frueh
Pianist/Videographer
Kai Frueh was born in Boonville, Missouri, on November 21, 2002. At the age of 4, along with his family, he moved to Corvallis, Oregon where he has since lived and begun his musical career. Kai, pursuing a dream, began learning the piano at the age of 7 with a local teacher, quickly excelling at his studies, and soon performing in concerts and competitions.
Kai’s passion for collaborative music started at 13 when he played Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 3 with his brother for the first time. He and his brother, Ben, quickly became an accomplished duo performing works by Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Mozart and many more. He also has performed in piano trios and played orchestral piano parts in both string and symphony orchestras.
Other than playing piano, Kai plays viola and has studied music theory quite extensively. He has been teaching privately since he was 15 and has also worked as an accompanist on occasion.
Aside from music, Kai is an avid birder, photographer, and loves working with people. He is very involved in local conservation efforts and relaunched the Young Birders Network in collaboration with Black Swamp Bird Observatory in the Fall of 2020.
Ben Frueh
Violinist/Videographer
Ben Frueh was born in Columbia, Missouri, on May 28, 2005. At the age of 3, he heard the well-known Four Seasons by A. Vivaldi, and a day did not go by thereafter, in which he did not beg to start learning the violin. His mother (having some sense) did not let him start learning at that age. On Ben’s 4th birthday, his mother took him to an older friend’s lesson, and he did not want to leave. Finally, to Ben’s great delight, she gave in. He borrowed a violin from a friend and began studying in September of 2009.
Ben’s single goal in his musical career was to play the Four Seasons, yet by the time he, at 6, learned the first of the four concerti, his love for the violin compelled him to continue learning. Shortly thereafter, he began playing music with his gifted brother, Kai. Through the music, he grew closer to his brother and gained valuable experience in playing with other people.
His musical career has since seen him performing on stage with Kristin Chenoweth for, amongst others, the governor of Oregon, on stage at Carnegie Hall, performing Bach’s double violin concerto with the OSU Symphony, as well as many other concerts and events.
Apart from music, Ben enjoys birding, literature, bicycling, and chocolate.