Christopher Benfield has completed two degrees in music education: one at The College of Saint Rose and one at the State University of New York at Potsdam, Crane School of Music. He also has a doctorate of musical arts in voice performance from The University of Washington.

For two years Christopher was a general music teacher at Brigadoon Elementary in Federal Way, Washington. In this position, he taught general music classes to kindergarten through fifth grade, led the Brigadoon Elementary Honor Choir and grade level choirs, developed and led multicultural events, as well as many other musical school activities. During his degree work, Christopher was a teacher with Musical Minds Keyboard Club, teaching elementary piano after school. Outside of public education, he has served as a tutor and instructor in various musical subjects, including voice, piano, music theory, composition, and professional performer. He has worked with musical organizations such as Musical Minds Keyboard Club, Happy Valley Arts Academy, and Bach2Rock Music School. He currently works as the Music Teacher for the Washington State School for the Blind, teaching general music, a variety of instruments, and choir. Through these positions and opportunities, he has formed personalized teaching styles, garnered experience as an educator, and built skills in the areas of alternative assessment such as rubrics, performance assessments, project-based learning, and conventional testing methods to evaluate his students and collegiate associates comprehensively. Christopher is also a composer; he has had several of his works and arrangements performed by various ensembles and musicians around the country.

As a voice teacher and performer, Christopher has developed a personalized instructional method that encourages life-long pursuits of knowledge and continuous growth. One of the facets of this instructional method focuses on spiral learning that encompasses reviewing previous lessons and building knowledge and skills with new information. He focuses on bringing together efficient singing and beautiful, engaging performances. Specifically, regarding voice, he follows Scott McCoy’s and Kari Ragan’s research into an evidence-based, scientific approach to voice pedagogy that promotes efficient, healthy voice production. Additionally, his recently published dissertation, Vox Aestheticæ: Creating an Approach to Aesthetic Analysis for the Voice Performer, represents the cumulation of years of research into the study of what we connect to and find beautiful in vocal music repertoire.

As an arts advocate, Christopher has had the opportunity to take on roles as an administrator for various groups, including roles such as the president of the College of Saint Rose Other Guys All-Male A Cappella Group, and claiming a seat on the council for the Seattle Symphony Chorale. Through these opportunities, he has gained experience in leadership, advocation, fundraising, and grant writing.

Christopher has been composing for nearly a decade, his works spanning genres from Classical to Contemporary. His catalog of works includes pieces for solo and ensemble instruments, choirs, and songs. His works have been performed across the country, from coast to coast, and Christopher is constantly looking for new opportunities to collaborate with other musicians. His experience affords him the knowledge and skills to create works lauded as beautiful and intensely expressive. With a myriad of experiences as an educator, performer, and composer, he boasts a unique perspective on music that sets him apart from his peers.

Music, and consequently music education and advocation, has been a passion of Christopher's for many years. He has extensive voice training and has used this as a medium to teach general music and large ensembles to follow his passion. Additionally, Christopher has experience in music theory and composition that he uses in his teaching every day. He has spent his academic career immersed in the study of musical aesthetics and implements this philosophy and research in his teaching and performing.

In his free time, Christopher enjoys learning new music and instruments, playing video games, composing and arranging, and spending time with his family; his partner, his cat Claude, and his dog Pepper.