The CU Boulder College of Music community mourns the loss of alumnus Ben Pollack (BME ’14) who unexpectedly passed away of natural causes on Dec. 14, 2023, in his home near Denver, Colorado. He was 31.
“While I am deeply saddened by the news of Ben’s passing, I fondly remember his passion for music and his love for teaching,” says Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies + Enrollment Management and Associate Professor of Conducting + Music Education Matthew Roeder.
“Ben’s dedication to music students and music education was recognized by his being named the Colorado Music Educators Association’s Young Teacher of the Year in 2019. His commitment to his students was rightly acknowledged early on in his teaching career by being honored as the first-ever recipient of this award.”
“Teaching music is the most important thing I do,” said Pollack five years ago in an interview celebrating his CMEA award. “It has to matter every day.”
Pollack was the recipient of a full out-of-state tuition scholarship from the University of Colorado Boulder where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. As an undergrad, he was principal chair of the CU Boulder Symphonic Band euphonium section and tuba/euphonium ensemble. Pollack was also a member of our Golden Buffalo Marching Band and the CU Buffoons, one of the state’s premiere a cappella groups.
“Suffering the loss of a student—current or former—is in many ways akin to losing a child,” reflects Associate Professor of Tuba + Euphonium Michael Dunn with whom Pollack studied. “When I heard about Ben’s passing, my first reaction was shock followed closely by gratitude—he was by all measures an extraordinary student.
“Ben was truly born to teach. Our lessons often revolved around how to deliver a view of the ‘bigger picture’ to students. He wanted his students to have a sense of their place in the world and for each of them to understand that they are capable of changing the world for the better. Ben happened to use music as his vehicle to deliver this message.”
Pollack continued his pursuit of excellence by earning a master’s degree in music education from the Jacobs School of Music at the University of Indiana, Bloomington, where he was principal chair of the IU Concert Band euphonium section.
As a band and choral music educator with a track record of success, Pollack sought to influence large-scale changes in education through music and community. Upon graduating from our College of Music, Pollack taught choir music at Carmel Middle School in Colorado Springs and later embraced the challenge of building up a music program in Walsenburg, Colorado, leaving an indelible mark on the students and community whose lives he touched and transformed. Last summer, he began a new chapter teaching instrumental music at Ponderosa High School in Parker, Colorado.
“We in the College of Music’s tuba and euphonium studio are grateful to have had Ben in our fold and know his star will continue to burn brightly,” says Dunn.
