St. Louis native Benjamin Worley, baritone, has been lauded for his dynamic range on stage. As an apprentice artist at the internationally accredited Sarasota Opera, he performed scenes from Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Verdi’s La forza del destino, and covered the role of Gran Sacerdote di Belo in their mainstage production of Nabucco. Splitting his time equally between dramatic and comedic roles Benjamin has performed including Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Union Avenue opera, Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Reverend Hale in Robert Ward’s The Crucible, and the titular role in Le nozze di Figaro. Not only an accomplished singer, Benjamin was published in the September 2018 issue of Journal of Singing, the periodical published in affiliation with NATS, for his paper “Harry Lawrence Freeman: Pioneering the African-American Grand Opera.”
What do you love about teaching?
My favorite thing about teaching is helping students find their true, natural voice through the joy of singing. I also love when I get to connect with my students on mutual interests in all kinds of music. We can both share and discover new things about our art and ourselves.
What is your favorite music to sing and what is something you love about singing?
My favorite music to sing is Verdi's operatic works. I love telling stories through music and bringing characters to life with all of their faults and triumphs (I'm a bass-baritone, so it's mostly faults...).
What is a skill you've learned as a musician that you use in your everyday life?
I've learned that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. In musicianship, it is imperative to have a plan for each performance, rehearsal, and practice session. That motto works in most things in life too!
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Music, University of Missouri–Columbia
Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, University of Missouri–Columbia
Master of Music in Vocal Performance, University of Missouri–Columbia
Master of Arts in Musicology, University of Missouri–Columbia
Performance Links
Cenerentola in Quarantine (Act II Sextet)
