Meet Mr. Bensen

Mr. Brad Bensen is the Director of Choirs and AP Music Theory at Panther Creek High School in Cary, NC. Mr. Bensen previously taught at Millbrook High School in Raleigh, NC and at New Bridge Middle School in Jacksonville, NC. Mr. Bensen received an undergraduate degree in Music Education with concentrations in both vocal and instrumental music from Virgina Tech in 1998. Additionally, Mr. Bensen holds a Master's Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University.  He is the Arts Dept. Chair at Panther Creek and stays involved with mentoring new teachers in the school's Beginning Teachers program,

Mr. Bensen has a passion for working with young people-- even more so than his passion for musical excellence. The groups have received numerous awards and consistent superior festival ratings. Mr. Bensen has taken choirs to perform in locations such as New York City (a favorite performance spot!), Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Washington D.C., Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, and at many local venues and community events. In 2011, the Panther Creek Chamber Choir was selected to sing at the annual North Carolina Music Educator's Association under his direction-- one of a high-school choir's greatest honors!

Continual learning and education is a goal of Mr. Bensen's. He has been able to study with many wonderful musicians in the past, including Dr. Robert Shaw (conductor of the Robert Shaw Chorale and Atlanta Symphony Chorus), Dr. Rodney Eichenburger (world-known choral conductor, clinician and educator), and Dr. Kevin Fenton (nationally acclaimed choral professor at Florida State University), and more recently, Dr. Carol Kreuger, professor at Emporia State University in Kansas.

Mr. Bensen served Walton Music as an advisor for years where he reviewed choral submissions that are requesting publication. His choirs have also recorded several different choral publications currently for sale. Mr. Bensen enjoys composing & arranging choral music, as time allows.  Additionally, Mr. Bensen has served in the following capacities:

• Pearson scoring director (during summers) for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

• NCMEA HS Chorus Board member: Chair of MPA Assessment/Revision

• Conductor for local choral events and various All-County choirs in North Carolina

• Active adjudicator & adjudication trainer for choral events/MPA

• Served the North Carolina Music Educator's Association as a District President, and Music List Chairperson

• Appointed by Governor Mike Easley to North Carolina Textbook Adoption Committee to serve as a regional commissioner

• Former Staff Development Coordinator for Wake County HS choirs

• Numerous presentations at NCMEA annual music conference

• Presenter for Performance Based Licensure standards at NC Northeast Middle School Conferences Additionally, Mr. Bensen is one of North Carolina's National Board Certified teachers and is a trained mentor-teacher at Panther Creek HS.

• Mr. Bensen is married (Alycia), has a daughter (Kailyn), a son (Braeden) and stays very busy even outside of school. He plays the trumpet and sings at church when requested. Additional activIties he enjoys include fishing & boating, mountain and road biking, home improvement, working out at, hiking, watching movies, cooking and eating out. Some have reported that he has some sort of addiction to home-baked cookies, but this claim has not been fully substantiated...yet.

• In 2022, Mr. Bensen was humbled to be named the NC High School Choral Director of the Year by the NC Music Educator's Association.