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, Katherine Carter, 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, a semi-finalist in the 2023 and 2024 Premiere Opera Foundation Competitions, the runner up in the 2024 Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition, the third-place winner of the 2024 Mario Lanza Scholarship, a winner of the 2024 Opera Index Competition and a 2024 winner of the Philadelphia District of the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition. This May, Benjamin will be joining the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble at Lyric Opera of Chicago, as a Young Artist. In past summers, Benjamin was a Young Artist at the Merola Opera Program in 2024, 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 Frére Laurent in Manhattan School of Music’s production of Roméo Et Juliette. This April, Benjamin will be taking on the role of Vodnik in Manhattan School of Music’s production of Rusalka. Benjamin’s previous roles include Der Tod, 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.