Benjamin R. Sokol is a bass-baritone whose repertoire spans several genres. Benjamin completed his BM and MM at Manhattan School of Music, where he studied classical voice with world-renowned bass-baritone, James Morris. Benjamin is currently a graduate student in Mr. Morris’ studio at MSM. In addition to James Morris, Benjamin has worked with voice teachers and coaches across the United States including Mignon Dunn, Joshua Greene, Mary Jane Johnson, Thomas Lausmann, Marlena Malas, Mario Marra, Carrie-Ann Matheson, Sherrill Milnes, Thomas Muraco, Kevin Murphy, Mark Schnaible, Shane Schag, Kenneth Merrill, Myra Huang, Bryan Wagorn and Howard Watkins. Benjamin has worked with prominent opera directors including Laura Alley, Adrienne Boris, Omer Ben-Seadia, John Giampietro Matsumoto, Fabrizio Melano, A. Scott Parry, Patricia Racette, Marcus Shields, John De Los Santos, and Dennis Whitehead Darling, and has participated in Master Classes with Dominic Armstrong, Piotr Beczala, Rachel Calloway, Simon Estes, Martin Katz, Sherrill Milnes, Adam Nielsen, Jorge Parodi and Matthew Polenzani.

Benjamin has been the recipient of many awards and accolades. He was awarded the Manhattan School of Music Alexandra Hunt Endowed Vocal Scholarship. He won the 2021 Milnes Opera Idol Competition, was a finalist in the 2022 Opera Index Competition, was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Premiere Opera Foundation Competition and was the runner up in the 2024 Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition. This summer, Benjamin is a Young Artist at the Merola Opera Program. Previously, he was a Young Artist at the Chautauqua Opera Company and Conservatory in 2023, and at the Taos Opera Institute in 2022. He has also been with the Milnes VOICE Programs for several years, participating at the Florida VOICE Project, Milnes VOICE Studio, and performing at the Savannah VOICE Festival. Most recently, Benjamin sang the role of Der Tod in Manhattan School of Music’s production of Der Kaiser Von Atlantis. Benjamin’s previous roles include Nick Bottom, Betto Di Signa, L’Arbre, Badger, Parson, Orest, Sarastro, Sprecher, Zweiter Geharnischter Mann, Wagner, Il Commendatore, L’Americain in Angelique, Bartender in Speed Dating Tonight, and Don Magnifico and Seagull #2 in A Royal Feast, both by Michael Ching.

As for choral work, Benjamin was a member, chamber choir singer and soloist with HaZamir, performing at venues such as the Gordon Center in Baltimore, Temple Emanuel NYC, Central Synagogue, Downtown Crossing (Boston), Zimriyah (Akko, Israel), Jazz at Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall, Carnegie Hall, and The Metropolitan Opera House. Benjamin was a featured soloist and singer with The Manhattan School of Music Symphonic Chorus and Chamber Choir, under the direction of Kent Tritle and Dr. Ronald Oliver. Currently, he is a frequently featured soloist with the Zamir Chorale and Zamir Noded under the direction of Matthew Lazar.