Alexis D. Benson

Lyric Tenor Alexis D. Benson is a native of New York, New York. He is the past pupil of renowned tenor and professor emeritus Jackson Sheats. Currently he studies voice with Nobleza Pilar at the University of Miami and coaches privately with Rebecca and Stafford Turner. He has participated in master classes with Russell Braun, Thomas Barrett and Verena Rein. He was a participant in the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival, Shenandoah Performs Music Festival, Centro Studi Lirico in Bologna and has performed as a member the Belcantanti Opera Company. In addition to his studies, Alexis has performed as Jacquino in Fidelio, Sailor in Dido and Aeneas, Prunier in La Rondine, Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore, King Kasper in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro and Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus with the Loudon Lyric Opera.

Alexis has been a tenor soloist for Bach’s Cantata BWV 111 and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, Coronation Mass and Requiem, and Saint-Säens Christmas Oratorio. Scholastically, Mr. Benson has publicly presented research on the Life and Music of Garcia Lorca, Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe, opus 39 and the History of the Spiritual entitled “Goin’-Home”. He is currently preparing research on the Life and Music of Puerto Rican salsa singer, Hector Lavoe for Fall 2010.

Mr. Benson received his Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Master of Music in Voice Performance degrees from Shenandoah Conservatory. He is the past recipient of the Jackson H. Sheats Endowed Scholarship of Music. Alexis is an active accompanist and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men’s Music Fraternity. Also having taught for PAVANN’s “Artists in Bloom” and “Saturday’s at Shenandoah” programs, Mr. Benson is serving his fourth summer as Head Counselor and Professor of Voice at the 2010 Shenandoah Performing Arts Camp.

Alexis is currently serving dual responsibilities as Adjunct Professor of Voice and Diction (Department of Fine Arts) and Residence Coordinator (Division of Student Affairs) at Barry University in Miami, Fl.