Conductors
Fall 2023 - Winter 2024
conductor
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Previously, Benjamin was the conductor of U-M's prison outreach choir, Out of the Blue and the Opera Chorus Master. He has also been conductor of the Michigan Youth Chamber Singers and assistant conductor of The University Choir at U-M. He is often invited to guest conduct at choral programs in the US and, as a certified teacher, has regularly served as a clinician at local Michigan schools. Benjamin is a Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music in Choral Conducting- a prestigious position held by a select number of people worldwide. Benjamin was recently selected as a Conducting Fellow for the renowned Chorus America Conducting Academy 2023.
Benjamin earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, England. After completing a masters in leadership, Benjamin received his masters degree in choral conducting at U-M with Dr. Eugene Rogers and is continuing with his doctor of musical arts degree in choral conducting. Alongside his musical passions, Benjamin considers his role as a husband and father his top priority. He loves to travel and enjoys learning how to make traditional foods from his ancestral Caribbean home of Trinidad and Tobago. |
Assistant CONDUCTOR
Xinmeng (Simone) Li
Xinmeng (Simone) Li is from Beijing, China. Simone is pursuing a joint degree at SMTD and LSA in three fields of study— Music Theory, Voice Performance, and Economics. She began learning piano at the age of 3, and joined the Beijing Philharmonic choir at the age of 6. She remained a member of the choir until she turned 15, when she left for Lake Forest Academy in Illinois to pursue her high school education. As the president of Annappella Acappella group, the first and only Chinese Acappella group at the UofM, Simone is responsible for overseeing all group activities, organizing rehearsals and performances, and ensuring the financial operations of the group. She hopes to provide a platform to share music and knowledge with all students that are passionate about music and singing. After graduating, Simone hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in conducting. She sees music as a universal language that can transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, and hopes to use this power to spread love, compassion, and positivity.