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Pianist John Benjamin has spent a great deal of his musical life as a collaborative musician,  chamber musician, coach/accompanist and opera and choral accompanist. However, he also regularly assumes the roles of church organist, choral director, musical theater conductor and cast member in opera and musical theater.

Mr. Benjamin was appointed Artist-in-Residence in piano at the University of Dayton in 2000, where he was one of the founding members of the Aviatori Piano Trio, a faculty ensemble. In addition to extensive performing, he teaches piano in private and group settings.

Before coming to UD, he was on staff at the University of Akron and Butler University. His primary teachers were Kenneth Griffiths, Richard Morris, Marian Lott and Donna Geller. He has been invited to participate in master classes with Arleen Auger, Dalton Baldwin, Irwin Gage, Jake Heggie, Martin Katz, Stephen Lord, Benjamin Luxon, Geoffrey Parsons, Samuel Sanders and William Warfield, among others.

He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and the University of Akron. Mr. Benjamin is also director of music at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Centerville, Ohio.

Recent activities include:

• November 2023 - Recital with Dayton Opera’s Artists-in-Residence
• April 2023 - Faculty Recital with bassoonist Kristen Smith and oboist Kaitlyn Nielsen
• Ongoing since March 2023 - Numerous recitals, appearances and outreach performances with Dayton Opera’s Artists-in-residence
• January 2023 - pianist for “Barnaby’s Gift” a one act opera for soprano, clown and piano by Scott Gendel; with colleagues Andrea Chenoweth Wells and Jerome Yorke
• November 2022 - Faculty Recital: “A Seasonal Song Sampler” with bass Bradley Mattingly and faculty colleagues David Sievers, tenor; Ryu-Kyung Kim, mezzo-soprano; and Andrea Chenoweth Wells

Research interests

• Collaborative piano
• Art Song
• Sacred Choral Music

Courses taught

• Group Piano for the non-major

Selected Discography and Publications

A Breath of Air, American Art Songs by Monica Houghton; Navona Records, NV6607, March 2024