St. Paul's presents lyric baritone-bass, organist
By Staff
special to The Star
Jan. 18, 2004
Gary Miller and David Benson will be the guests at the next St. Paul's Chamber Music Series on Thursday.
The concert begins at 12:05 p.m. in the parish hall of the church, 1116 23rd Ave. The program is free and open to the public.
Miller, a lyric baritone-bass, is a member of and frequent soloist with The Willis Bodine Chorale. He is also a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus.
His recent solo appearances include Handel's Messiah, Bach's Jesu, meine Freude, Cantata 159 and St. Matthew's Passion, Schubert Mass No. 2 in G Major, Faure Requiem, Durufle Requiem, Beethoven An die ferne Giliebte and Barber On Dover Beach. He has appeared as cantor for the Couperin Messe pour les Couvents.
Miller's initial studies were with C. Alexander Peloquin while at Boston College and later with Hermann Gunter. He is currently studying with Rebecca Micha and Dr. Jean-Ronald LaFond.
Miller is director of engineering at Sabine Inc., a leading manufacturer of electronic equipment for the music, sound reinforcement and entertainment industry.
Benson, an organist, is a native of Birmingham, Ala., and has spent most of his life in Florida.
His parents recognized his musical abilities when he was a child. He was fascinated with the sound of the piano and made up little tunes at an early age.
At Stetson University, Benson studied organ with Paul Jenkins and voice and conducting with Professor Harold Giffin. Besides receiving his training at Stetson, Benson also met his wife, Josephine. She is an accomplished pianist and taught public school music in Florida for several years.
Benson served at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Gainesville, Fla., for 17 years, first as organist-choirmaster, than as director of music.
He also founded and directed Melrose Music Theatre in Melrose, Fla. For more than 20 years this company of singers and actors produced Gilbert and Sullivan operas, Broadway revues, and annual Madrigal Dinners.
Benson began his duties as organist-choirmaster at St. Paul's in July 2001. His main interest in music is the service playing, and arranging and composing for choirs.
