Family honors son by expanding access to music education

Ben Carlson-Berne became enamored with music at the age of three when he began keeping time to radio music during car trips. This grew a passion, leading to piano lessons and a deep love for classical music.

By the time he was a teenager attending Wyoming High School, his father recalls asking him to turn down the music — opera music.

“I often tell this story, you know how you have to yell at your kids to turn down the music, well, I had to scream at our son to turn down the opera music,” said Phil Berne. “We thought it was funny, even at the time.”

Inspired by a community service project, Ben decided to introduce classical music to children through the former nonprofit, the Arts Consortium, based in downtown Cincinnati. He was committed to the idea of introducing music to children who otherwise might not have had the opportunity. This effort grew into giving lessons and enlisting his parents’ help in finding pianos for the children he taught.

“He said, ‘the kids want to learn how to play piano and they can’t practice because they don’t have a piano, so we need to get them pianos,” recalls Ben’s mother, Susan Carlson. “We would get donated pianos from people, and I would rent a U-Haul, and we would push them into people’s apartments downtown.” 

Adolphus McCullum gravitated to percussion before the age of five. A rising senior at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, he is a long-time recipient of the Carlson Berne scholarship and began private lessons at age seven. His hard work and persistence have earned awards from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Ohio Music Education Association. He’s competed in solo and ensemble competitions with several local high schools.

“My plans for my future are to go to college for marching band and major in music and computer science,” he said. “I want to be a head section leader for the drum line, and I want to become a music teacher and teach percussion to middle school and high school students.”

His sister, Allyssa Early-McCullom, is a former scholarship recipient who earned degrees from UC Blue Ash and Full Sail University. She is now a working violist, collaborating with musicians and songwriters.

“It’s been a joy working with Phil and Susan,” said Sharon Early-McCullom. “They have made sure my kids have private lessons so they can play for the rest of their lives. Ben’s life continues because of what his mother and father are doing for other students.”