Benny Breaux, 11 years old, is a 6th grader at Princeton Middle School.

Born in Houston, Texas, Benny and his family recently moved to New Jersey last summer. He began playing piano at the age of 5, and has been passionate about it ever since. When Benny wakes up, he plays the piano. When he arrives home from school, he sits at the piano. And it's the last thing he does before going to bed. It's his happy place, his calm place, and his centering place.

Benny also loves to compose music. In the winter of '22/'23 his first written piece went to the national MTNA composition competition as the midwest division winner. 

He has played twice in Carnegie Hall, as he was a First Place Winner at the '23 Elite International Competition and won Grand in the '24 NLPA piano competition. Benny also won First Place in the '24 Great Composers Competition (Chopin). At the spring '24 NJMTA piano competition he was awarded High Honors. He has also performed at the '24 NJMTA Performathon, the Indiana State Fair, and the Newfields Art Museum in Indianapolis. He was the piano accompanist for his elementary school's 4th and 5th grade choirs.

When Benny's not practicing piano, exploring music on and off of the piano, composing, and playing songs he's heard by ear, he loves to practice karate. Benny plays saxophone in the Princeton Middle School Band. He also enjoys science and math, and competed in the '24 Scripps Regional Spelling Bee. A Boy Scout since the age of 5, Benny likes to go camping and enjoys the outdoors. He loves to play outside with his sister and brother, mountain bike, swim, and build Scratch projects. He's so happy to be a part of Professor Clarfield's incredible piano studio.