Voice Studio

Benjamin has maintained a private voice studio since 2009. His students have gone on to earn top scores at competitions and enroll in post-secondary voice study.

There is currently room in Benjamin’s studio. Please contact him for further information if you would like to study voice. Please also see “Teaching Philosophy.”

Résumé with teaching emphasis:

Benjamin D. Laur

514 7th Avenue, Apt. A, Coralville, IA 52241

   benjamin-laur@uiowa.edu ▪ (989) 590-0511

­

EDUCATION

Doctor of Music – Voice Performance, May 2016 (Currently Enrolled), University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.


Master of Music – Voice Performance, May 2013, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio.

Bachelor of Music – Voice Performance, December 2010. Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Graduate Instructor, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green OH. Taught applied study lessons and class voice. Tuition and stipend included.

Private Voice Instructor, Bowling Green, OH; Mount Pleasant, MI. Maintains private voice studio (2009-current).

Midland Christian School, Midland, MI. Elementary and Secondary Music Teacher – Designed curriculum and instructed five music classes; arranged music for and conducted four choirs; directed biannual concerts (August 2010-June 2011).

                                   

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Senior Composition Recital Chorus, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI.  Choral Conductor, Composer - Organized, rehearsed and conducted student choir for the premier of  original works in senior composition recital  (Spring 2010).

AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

2011-2013 BGSU Graduate Assistant Instructor – Taught voice class and applied study; tuition waiver and stipend included.

2009 CMU Summer Scholars Grant Program - Composed and performed “The Letter of Jesse Givens,” a set of songs for baritone and orchestra.  Written in memory of US Army soldier serving in Iraq in 2003.   

2009 R. Cedric Colness Vocal Scholarship Award - Awarded to music student who exhibits excellence and proficiency in voice performance.

RECENT COMPOSITIONS AND PERFORMANCES

Composition:  “Set Me As A Seal” - Text:  Song of Solomon 8:6-7.  In 2009, this choral octet premiered internationally at the Aachener Chorbiennale Festival in Aachen, Germany.  The Aachener Kammerchor maintains the piece in their repertoire.

Roles Performed: Baron Cascada, The Merry Widow (Lehar), BGSU Opera Theatre, 2013; King Hildebrand, Princess Ida (Gilbert & Sullivan), BGSU Opera Theatre, 2013; Aeneas, Dido and Aeneas (Purcell), BGSU Opera Theatre, 2012; Customs Official, chorus, La bohème (Puccini), Toledo Opera, 2012; Dandini, The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Davies), Bowling Green Children’s Opera, 2012; Hercules, Hercules (Handel), BGSU Opera Theatre, 2012; Koko, The Mikado (Gilbert & Sullivan), BGSU Opera Theatre, 2012 & CMU Opera Theatre, 2008; Giuseppe, a servant chorus, La Traviata (Verdi), Toledo Opera, 2011; Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni (Mozart), CMU Opera Theatre, 2010; Papageno, Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), CMU Opera Theatre, 2009; Fred Graham/Petrucchio, Kiss Me, Kate (Porter), CMU Music Theatre, 2008.