BENJAMIN HOWARD

Marked as a “standout” (Chicago Tribune) and praised for his “intelligence, nuance, and heart-melting tone” (Chamber Music in Historic Sites), baritone Benjamin Howard is quickly becoming a sought-after young talent to watch. Based in New York City, Benjamin was thrilled to make his major recital debut in October of 2021 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, CA. He joined acclaimed pianist Armen Guzelimian and the Auryn String Quartet for an all-Haydn program. In the summer of 2019, he made his debut with Pacific Opera Project, performing Pish-Tush in The Mikado. Earlier that year, Howard was named a first-place winner of The American Prize in Vocal Performance--The Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award, 2018-2019 in the men's art song division. In 2018, he made his debut with Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, singing Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods and the Sergeant in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

 

Operatic highlights include the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in Don Giovanni, Ping in Turandot, Elder McLean in Susannah, Speaker in Die Zauberflöte, 1st Officer, 2nd Commissioner in Dialogues des Carmélites, Connie Rivers in The Grapes of Wrath, Prior in La Dolorosa, Luciano in Bastianello, Yamadori in Madama Butterfly, Old Adam in Ruddigore, Marchese in La Traviata, Mr. Dashwood in Little Women, and Herman Atlan in The Mother of Us All. Additional highlights have included Dr. Craven in The Secret Garden, Mr. Lindquist in A Little Night Music, Rabbi Einhorn in Amazing Grace, and Mr. Mayor in Seussical.

 

As a concert soloist, Mr. Howard has performed with such organizations as the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Abilene Philharmonic, and Chicago’s Main Street Opera. His credits as a soloist include Fauré’s Requiem, Duruflé's Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai, Finzi’s In Terra Pax, Rodrigo’s Ausencias de Dulcinea, and Mozart’s Missa Brevis in C Major (Spatzenmesse).

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A Los Angeles native, Mr. Howard is a recent recipient of an Opera Buffs Inc. grant as well as The American Prize Chicago Oratorio Award, 2018 . In the 2017-18 season, he made his second appearance on the Fort Worth Opera stage in its production of Don Pasquale, and also sang with the Dallas Opera Education & Outreach program.

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Benjamin Howard received his Bachelor of Music and Musical Theatre Certificate from Northwestern University and Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas. In addition to the Utah Festival, he has been a Young Artist at Opera in the Ozarks, SongFest, and the Idyllwild Arts Festival. An avid choral lover, Benjamin was recently appointed baritone/bass in the Saint Thomas Choir of Men & Boys in New York City.