Saxophonist Ben Dobay was born in raised in Salem, OR. He began playing clarinet at age 10 but quickly switched to Saxophone. He began performing jazz locally at age 16 while studying classical music at Sprague High School. He continued to study music at Mt. Hood Community College. In 2002 he performed at the International Association of Jazz Education Convention in Toronto with The Community College All Star Big Band. In 2003 he relocated to Eau Claire, WI to finish his degree. From 2005- 2006, Ben served as Jazz Director at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. In the summers he studies with Portland based Saxophonist Renato Caranto. In 2006, thanks to charity grants, he studied with New York tenor saxophonist Rich Perry. In the fall of 2006 Ben traveled with a quintet to China through donations from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation. He now resides and performs in Manhattan.