Meet the Conductor

Andrew Benware is currently the Director of Choral Activities at Saranac Lake High School (NY) where he conducts the Festival Chorus, Concert Choir, Men’s Ensemble, Women’s Ensemble, and teaches small group vocal instruction. He also serves as the Music Director for the annual musical theater production and maintains a small private piano studio. Benware is also the founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Northern Adirondack Vocal Ensemble (NAVE), a highly selective chamber choir specializing in a cappella vocal repertoire from multiple genres.

Additionally, Benware has served as Assistant Professor of Music Education at the Ithaca College School of Music where he has worked at both the Graduate and Undergraduate levels instructing wind instrument pedagogy, instrumental conducting, and secondary instrument methods. He has also supervised student teachers, conducted the Brass Choir and has served as a sabbatic leave replacement as conductor of the Concert Band.  Additionally, he served as accompanist and guest conductor for the Campus Chorale and accompanist and collaborative instructor for the Musical Theater Workshop.

Benware has been a member of the inaugural and subsequent faculties of the Ithaca College Summer Music Academy, an intensive college-preparatory music program at the School of Music where he has held various instructional roles in the fields of conducting, accompanying, music fundamentals, and as the conductor of the selective choral ensemble as well as serving as the Chair of the Musical Theater Division.

He is a native of Northern New York State where he has served several years as a public school music educator, both as Director of Instrumental Music at Saranac Lake (NY) High School and as Director of Choral Activities at the Peru (NY) Middle/High School.

Benware is active as a lecturer and clinician, having recently presented at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester, NY, and is in frequent demand as a guest conductor for honors ensembles (both instrumental and choral) throughout New York State. He is also active as a performer, taking part in the Upstate New York Chorus (UNYC) under the direction of Dr. Janet Galvan, the Northern Lights Choir (NLC) under Ms. Helen Demong, and as a church musician, holding positions at both St. Bernard’s and St. Agnes Catholic Churches in Saranac Lake (NY) and Lake Placid (NY), respectively.

Beginning January 1, 2023, he sill serve as the NYSSMA State Choral Chairman.

He holds both a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with a concentration on the Trumpet and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Ithaca College School of Music.