Dr. Ann Benson, mezzo soprano, will be performing a duo cabaret-style recital with fellow South Carolinian Dr. David Bankston, tenor with Steven Lutvak, piano, on Friday evening, December 12 at 8pm at the Lincoln Center in the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Opera Learning Center. Earlier in the week, on December 9, Benson will also be participating in a panel discussion and master class with other nationally known teachers.
 
The recital is entitled THE KITCHEN SINK: The Venerated to the Vernacular - An exciting eclectic mix of music from Richard Strauss and Stephen Sondheim to Adam Guettel and Southern field hollers.  Tickets are $10 and may be reserved by emailing kitchensinkconcert@gmail.com or purchased at the door.  

ANN BENSON has always been praised for her vivid, velvety voice and as a committed singing actress   who has captivated audiences both here and abroad with dynamic portrayals of operatic heroines. So, her successful recent transition into the mezzo-soprano repertoire has not been surprising.  She made her New York operatic debut in the title role of Puccini’s Tosca with the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center.  

A skillful interpreter of art song, Miss Benson made her New York recital debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 1989.  She has recorded a CD entitled Opus Christmas, a collection of new settings of traditional Christmas carols in a variety of styles ranging from Bach to Copeland.

Recently, Miss Benson performed the role of Desiree in A Little Night Music, and as Mrs. Lovett in another Sondheim masterpiece, Sweeney Todd.  Additional engagements include Tosca in Hilton Head, South Carolina; Nedda in Pagliacci with Chattanooga Opera; an evening of Verdi and Puccini arias with the Ann Arbor Symphony under the direction of Samuel Wong; concert versions of Tosca with the Syracuse Symphony; Amelia in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera with the Connecticut Opera, Peoria Civic Opera and the Des Moines Metro Opera; and Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohème with the Opera Company of Mid-Michigan in Lansing.

South Carolina audiences also recently enjoyed Miss Benson in concert performing Britten’s War Requiem and Verdi’s Requiem. Other concert performances include Mendelssohn’s Elijah in New York City and with the New Haven Chorale; Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’Ete with the South Carolina Philharmonic; soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony #9 with both the Greenville Symphony and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic.  Ms. Benson also performed Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Anchorage Symphony, as well as a program of arias and holiday songs with the Pacific Symphony and the American Boy’s Choir.

Miss Benson has sung Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Violetta (La Traviata), Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Giorgetta, (Il Tabarro), Musetta, (La Bohème), and Susannah (Susannah) and Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte).  Past highlights in Miss Benson's career include PBS telecasts of La Traviata (Violetta); Madama Butterfly (Madama Butterfly); Debut: Ann Benson, Soprano (Opera Arias) and the William Schuman Celebration.

A native of South Carolina, Miss Benson is a graduate of Columbia College, where she currently serves as a member of the teaching faculty and was voted as the college’s 2005 Students’ Choice Award recipient for excellence in teaching. As a vocal instructor whose students excel, she is known as a builder of young voices of all levels who encourages an individual’s unique sound and full potential. Dr. Benson holds a Master's degree from Indiana University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of South Carolina.  

David Bankston – singer and song writer
David Bankston is a veteran of the American music landscape, born and raised in Southern Louisiana and currently living in South Carolina. After absorbing the early influences of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Mose Allison, David's first success was with the folk-rock group, Manchild, signed to Capitol Records in the mid 1970s. After Manchild's breakup, he spent years performing nationally in musical theatre and opera. David has since become a music educator and is currently Associate Professor of Music at Coastal Carolina University near Myrtle Beach.

Steven Lutvak is a multi-faceted musician, working as composer, lyricist, performer, and music director. He is the winner of the first Johnny Mercer Emerging American Songwriter Award; two grants from the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation; a New American Work Grant from the NEA; and, with his writing partner, Robert L. Freedman, the Kleban Award for Lyric Writing for the Theater, and the Fred Ebb Songwriting Award.  Musicals include CAMPAIGN OF THE CENTURY (winner of the California Musical Theater Competition) and his adaptation of KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS, which was developed at the Sundance Theater Institute.  He wrote the title track to the hit documentary film, MAD HOT BALLROOM, and his work is featured and discussed in CLASSIC AMERICAN POPULAR SONG. He's performed his songs at Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Recital Hall, and most of the major rooms in New York, Chicago and LA. His solo CD is called THE TIME IT TAKES.  You can learn more about him at StevenLutvak.com.