1. Benjamin L. Swanson
Tenor Benjamin Swanson is a singing actor from
Jamestown, NY. Ben has performed in many collegiate
and community theatre productions. In April 2016, he
performed as the Baron Mirko Zeta in James Madison
University Opera Theatre’s production of Lehár’s The
Merry Widow, as well as Edwin in JMU Gilbert & Sullivan
Society’s production of Trial by Jury. Previously at JMU,
Ben has performed as an ensemble member in Rossini’s Il
barbiere di Siviglia, Puccini’s La bohème, and Gilbert and
Sullivan’s Patience. At Fredonia State University, he
performed with the Western New York Chamber
Orchestra as an ensemble member in Strauss’ Die
Fledermaus, and he was an original cast member of The
Orphans in Autumn by Sean Doyle. Ben performed in the Chautauqua Opera's production
of The Ballad of Baby Doe during the summer of 2014.
Ben is well versed in the choral setting. He is a former member of the Fredonia College
Choir and Chamber Choir, with whom he sang Bach's Johannes-Passion, BVW
245 and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. At James Madison University, he is a member of
The Madison Singers and a former member of the James Madison University Chorale. At
James Madison University, he has performed selections from Mendelssohn’s Elijah,
Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, and participated in master classes with the renowned choral
groups Tenebrae and The King’s Singers.
He is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music with concentrations in Music Theatre and
Music Education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. He is studying voice
with Ms. Brenda Witmer. Previously, Ben was a student at Fredonia State University
where he studied voice with Mr. Joe Dan Harper.