John Benton is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received his Bachelor’s of Music and Masters of Arts in Teaching (Music Education). While at UNC, he studied piano under Steinway Artist, Dr. Mayron Tsong and was the recipient of the Sydney M. Dowd Fellowship for Piano Studies. He formally served as the Choral and Orchestra Director at McDougle Middle School in Chapel Hill as well as Choral Director at Chapel Hill High School. He is currently the Director of Choirs at Rolesville Middle School in the Wake County Public School System. 

He has performed in notable music festivals, including the Lorenzo de Medici-Tuscania Music Festival in Rome, Italy, and The Schlern-Orfeo Music Festival in Vols am Schlern, Italy. His performances have taken him to New York City, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Spain; performing at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Teatro Colon, The Museum of the Revolution (Havana), Cathedral of Toledo, and the AMIA Jewish Center in Buenos Aires. His ensembles have won numerous prizes and festivals over the years including Festival Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. 

Most recently, his students performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June of 2023 under the direction of Greg Gilpin as part of a concert entitled, 'The Human Spirit'. His choir had their premier performance at Carnegie Hall in 2019. They premiered Spanish choral works of composer Alberto Grau, under the direction of Maria Guinand. In 2022, the Chapel Hill High School Choir premiered a work by Grammy Award Winner, Eric Whitacre, at Carnegie Hall with 'The Boy Who Laughed at Santa Claus'. They also opened for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. In November of 2024, The McMannen United Methodist Church Chancel Choir will debut Eric Whitacre's, "The Gift of the Magi", at Carnegie Hall marking his fourth overall performance with his choirs.

John has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, The New England Symphonic Ensemble, The Choral Society of Durham, Chamber Choir of St. Martin in the Fields (London), and is a member of the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Durham under the direction of Dr. Rodney Wynkoop. He has worked with renowned teachers such as Nell Middleton, Steinway Artists Dr. Mayron Tsong and Dr. Thomas Otten, Irina Krivonos (Lucy Moses School, NYC), Sergio de los Cobos (Geneva Conservatory, Switzerland), Donna Protopepscu (Belgian Conservatory), and participated in Master Classes with Andre Diev, and the late Leon Fleisher and Andre Watts. His publications include program notes for pianists; Lang Lang, Leon Fleisher, Mitsuko Uchida, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Leif Ove Andsnes, and Radu Lupu. In 2021, John was honored by Steinway and Sons as a Verified Piano Teacher and Educational Partner due to his excellence as a piano teacher. In addition to teaching in the public schools in Wake County, John teaches piano at his home studio in Wake Forest (Benton Piano Studios). In addition to teaching, John also serves as the Director of Music Ministries at McMannen United Methodist Church in Durham