Keith Benjamin

Keith Benjamin was named Curators' Distinguished Professor of Trumpet at the UMKC Conservatory of Music in 2017. His current orchestral work includes guest principal trumpet stints in Orchestra Iowa and other regional orchestras, and extra trumpet for the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. His recitals emphasize new music, with commissions from Samuel Adler, Stacy Garrop, James Mobberley, Tony Plog, Adam Schoenberg, and many others. Recital and concert appearances in more than 35 states and overseas are traveling highlights, and living in Kansas City allows him a lively career as a commercial, studio, and lead trumpet player; recent performances have been with Hugh Jackman, Ben Folds, Peter Gabriel, Idina Menzel, and Matthew Morrison. Dr. Benjamin is partnered with organist Melody Steed in Clarion, a trumpet and organ duo that emphasizes twentieth-century music. The duo has released three CD recordings with Gothic and Crystal Records.