Career Highlights
In 2018, he won the prestigious Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation Bel Canto Award and was also awarded the people’s choice award. Before heading to the UK, he also won New Zealand’s premiere singing competition, the Lexus Song Quest, which has also been won by New Zealand’s very own Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Notable engagements elsewhere: Schaunard, cover John Sorel The Consul (WNO); Friedrich Bhaer Little Women (Opera Holland Park); Marullo Rigoletto (Glyndebourne on Tour); Mirza Der Gesang der Zauberinsel (Salzburg Festival as a 2019 Salzburg Young Singer); Guglielmo, Count Le nozze di Figaro (Bloomsbury Opera); Schabernack Le Grand Macabre (LSO); Schaunard (Festival Opera Napier); Guglielmo, Demetrius A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Assan The Consul (as Guildhall School of Music and Drama scholar).
He regularly appears in concert and recital, with recent appearances including a recital tour of New Zealand, A Sea Symphony (CBC/CBSO), In Terra Pax (BBCSO/Oramo) Messiah (Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields) and a gala with the Orchestra of Opera North, as well as recitals at Brighton, Oxford Lieder and Leeds Lieder, and King’s Lynn and Ludlow Song Festival.
Future engagements: Ceprano Rigoletto (Opera Holland Park) Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra); Belshazzar’s Feast (Orchestra of Wellington).
Last updated: 28th April 2023
ENO Harewood Artist Programme
At ENO we are committed to nurturing talent for the future of opera.
Our Harewood Artists programme enables exceptionally talented British and British-trained singers, like Benson, to perform with a major opera company while receiving specialist coaching, support and guidance for 2-3 years.
