Ben van den Akker is based in historic Sunbury on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia. He serves as a percussionist in the Royal Australian Air Force Band and is leader of the Air Force Drum Corps.
Ben was born in the Netherlands where he studied piano and snare drum from a young age. His family later migrated to Australia, where Ben studied percussion throughout school and university, and has worked as a freelance percussionist and jazz drummer.
Ben has a keen interest in the world of rudimental drumming and encourages the development of an emerging Australian fife and drum corps movement. His compositions and arrangements draw inspiration from Australia's colonial beginnings.
Teachers
- Jan Teljeur
- Christopher Higgins
- Alex Averbukh
- Peter Clinch
- Felix Werder
- Brenton Mouy
- Barry Quinn
- Paul Sarcich
- Robert Clarke