Adelaide farmers’ markets busker Ben Rawlings growing up before shoppers’ eyes

He’s the young violinist you’ll see at Adelaide’s biggest farmers’ market – and while his renditions of Billie Eilish get the kids dancing, it’s his Bach that makes shoppers weep.

On Sundays at the Adelaide Showgrounds Farmers Market, regulars have quietly watched busking violinist Ben Rawlings grow up over the past five years.

Now marketgoers are noticing the 18-year-old’s music reach new heights, after he was selected this year to attend the prestigious Australian Youth Orchestra camp and accepted as a student at University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music, where he is studying classical performance.

Ben started as a regular market busker in 2020, when he was just 14. “Eventually people started talking to me, asking for requests, commenting on what they liked about it, and that just gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.

The youngster said he had “perfect pitch”, a rare musical ability which allowed him to identify musical notes by ear before reproducing violin versions of popular songs by the likes of Queen and Billie Eilish.

His versions of pop songs regularly attract crowds of dancing toddlers and children, but Ben said he has been increasingly drawn to performing classical music at the market. “I think it’s really good to be able to bring older music to the public,” he said.

He said he was moved to see his performances of Bach bringing some marketgoers to tears, while others had dropped him bouquets of flowers and loaves of bread, “which is just the nicest thing you can possibly get”.

18-year-old violinist Ben Rawlings busking at the Adelaide Showground Farmers' Market in March. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Ben said his biggest fan was market volunteer Lynette Trott. “On a couple of my first ever busking sessions, when she could see that I was very, very nervous, she was extremely enthusiastic,” he said.

“She was dancing around, clapping after every single one of my pieces. She’s been an incredible support, and I would not be here without her.”

Ms Trott said Ben brought joy to the market. “He always makes the day better when he’s there, when I’m doing those long shifts, because let’s face it, not everybody at the market is always happy,” she said.

“It’s always a good day when Ben’s there. The people at the farmers’ market, when I’m in fluoro, just (say) ‘yeah, there’s Trotty dancing away to Ben’s music’. The feet just have to move when he’s playing.”

Ms Trott said two years ago she requested Ben play her favourite classical piece, The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams, for her 55th birthday.

“I gave him a few months’ notice, and he went and learnt that piece of music for me,” she said. “It was just absolutely beautiful; that brought a tear to my eye.”

18-year-old violinist Ben Rawlings busking at the Adelaide Showground Farmers' Market in March. Picture: Brett Hartwig

In 2020, Ben talking to former Immanuel College principal Kevin Richardson. Picture: Supplied

Ben’s mother, Katherine Rawlings, said her son often took his violin on family holidays. “If we don’t take it with us, or we’re going for a short trip, it’s the first thing he does when he gets home. He gets straight back on to the violin,” she said.

Ms Rawlings said Ben first asked to play the violin when he was six. “I thought, this might be one of the things that he tries and then moves on to the next thing. And he never ever has,” she said.

After primary school, Ben received a music scholarship to attend Immanuel College. He became a school music captain in year 12 before receiving a SACE merit for solo performance.

One of his teachers, Immanuel College strings director Emily Gann, said Ben was an especially passionate musician.

“At a concert, he turned up one day and played Bohemian Rhapsody on the violin from memory, and just taught himself that the night before,” she said.

Ben said he dreamt of playing with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and travelling overseas to play with more symphony orchestras.

“Being a part of a string section, it’s really incredible,” he said. “You’re surrounded by people who are playing incredible music with you, and to get paid to do that would be a dream.”

Originally published as Adelaide farmers’ markets busker Ben Rawlings growing up before shoppers’ eyes