Christopher Benfield is a Seattle- and Portland-based baritone, pursuing a DMA in voice performance at the University of Washington under the voice instruction of Dr. Kari Ragan. He appears regionally in both stage and concert, highlights of which include the role of Gazella in Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia with Puget Sound Concert Opera. As a member of the University of Washington Vocal Theatre Works, he has appeared in selected scenes as the titular role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Dr. Malatesta in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale; as well as with Lawrence Opera Theatre as Harlekin in Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. Debuting as the baritone soloist in the Northwest premiere of Philip Glass’ Hydrogen Jukebox under the musical direction of conductor Dean Williamson, he has also performed under the direction of Deanne Meek and Hugo Vera.
Christopher has a passion for aesthetics, creativity, and expression that he incorporates in his other interests of composition and education. He spends much of his time outside of performing working on various compositions and arrangements or teaching music with students of all ages. A frequent recitalist, he has brought his passion for art songs, mélodie, and lieder into his teaching, and in performance particularly enjoys focusing on the intense, intimate experience of vocalist and piano.