Stuart Benkert
Associate Professor of Music: Director of Bands
Fine Arts Center 205
(423)425-4736
Stuart-Benkert@utc.edu
Education
Ph.D Music Education, The University of Kansas
M.M. Music Education, The University of Kansas
B.M. Music Education, The University of South Florida
Dr. Stuart Benkert is an Associate Professor of Music and The Director of Bands for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Before coming to UTC he was Director of Bands at St. Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Benkert also teaches, or has taught, several classes of various disciplines including Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, Jazz Band I. Jazz Band II, Band Materials Practicum, Survey of Jazz, Woodwind Techniques, Brass Techniques, Instrumental Techniques for Vocal Music Educators, Arranging for Band, Marching Band Techniques, Advanced and Graduate Conducting, and Music in Society for the UTC Honors Program.
Dr. Benkert enjoys a wide reputation as a conductor of scholastic and educational programs in Japan and The United States. He has conducted school and community groups in Sasebo and Nagasaki and programmed a concert with the UTC Symphonic Band comprised entirely of music by Japanese composers. This concert contained Japanese folk music, modern compositions and two U.S. Premiers. Dr. Benkert also established ties with composers of Central and South America resulting in a concert program containing only one selection that had previously been played in the United States. Until 2007 Dr. Benkert conducted band and Chamber clinics for Above and Beyond Music Travel in California, Europe and Asia.
Dr. Benkert has conducted bands in Alabama, California, Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Stuart studied with several prominent conductors including Jerry Junkin, Robert Foster, Frederick Fennell (Grainger) and John Bourgeois (Sousa). An avid clinician, Dr. Benkert not only provides services for honor bands and clinics but visits high schools and middle schools on a weekly basis helping prepare students for concert festivals.
Dr. Benkert taught all facets (general, vocal, and instrumental) and levels (K-12) of music education in public schools. He built the Bassett Marching Band (Bassett, VA) from 47 to 117 members in four years while initiating a high school beginning band program and in-school jazz band. Total enrollment (marching band, beginning band, and jazz band) was 153 at a school with an enrolment of 399 students. Stuart also led Bassett to its first VBODA "Superior" rated district concert festival performance in 22 years.
Dr. Benkert has a reputation for excellence in pageantry. He has designed over 300 shows for programs around the world that have been viewed on ESPN, NBC, CBS, ABC, CCS, and MTV. His winter guards and drum lines have been in finals at Winter Guard International several times and he has served as a staff member for DCI and BOA finalists. Known more for marching band than drum corps, Dr. Benkert travels the country designing half time shows for high schools and universities while providing solid clinical instruction for camps. Stuart has judged Marching Band Competitions in 37 states and currently judges Regional and National Championships for the United States Scholastic Band Association.
Dr. Benkert is a clinician for the drill design software company Pygraphics, the publishers of "Pyware". Stuart provides clinics across the Southeastern United States and for 2008 will be presenting drill sessions at the Tennessee Music Educator's Association Convention as well as the National Convention of the American School Band Directors Association. In addition Dr. Benkert provides private and "for credit" instruction to band directors at his Summer Drill Institute on campus at the university of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Dr. Benkert is active in University service as a second term Faculty Senator and member of several University committees. Dr. Benkert belongs to many professional organizations including Tennessee Music Educator's National Association, Tennessee Bandmaster's Association, National Band Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, College Band Director's National Association, College Music Society, Music Educators National Conference, East Tennessee state Band and Orchestra Association, and the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association. Stuart served as the college representative for the ETSBOA and served on the Marching Band Subcommittee for NBA. He was also the principal organizer and first elected President of the Southern Conference Athletic Band Directors Association. Dr. Benkert also hosts the lower state concert festival for the East Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association every year as well as the Tri-State Honor Band event where he is the organizer and principal clinician.
Dr. Benkert changed the face of the UTC Marching Mocs and pep bands by modernizing the shows and increasing the level of crowd appeal. The Marching Mocs and the Basketball band have been seen on have been seen on MTV and ESPN. The Marching Mocs perform exhibitions at contests and are crowd favorites with most recent shows based on the Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, Metallica, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, and euro band sensation System of a Down. Stuart increased minority enrolment in the UTC Band Activies from 7% to 34% in four years. Dr. Benkert also organized the first ever "Band Day" in 2002 by inviting high school band program to join the marching band in the stands and on the field for performances. The 2008 year was the most successful to date with students from 16 regional schools participating. Dr. Benkert also expanded the role of the pep band to include all women's basketball games as well as a few soccer, volleyball, wrestling and softball events.
Dr. Benkert is extremely active in the community as an organizer of events and performer. Under his direction the UTC Marching Mocs have performed for the grand openings of the Ronald McDonald House, The Chestnut Street Bridge, The Siskin Children's Institute, and the second phase of the Tennessee Aquarium. Dr. Benkert is President of "QSBevents" a corporation that brings concerts and conventions to the Chattanooga Area. In addition the company sponsors, plans, and runs the Southern States Marching Band Championship in coordination with Youth Education in the Arts (Yea.org), The United States Marines Corps, and Yamaha. Additional projects planned are, a Bagpipe Festival and St. Patrick's Day Parade for the city of Chattanooga. Both of which will be organized and run by QSBevents in conjunction with the Chattanooga Visitor's Bureau and the City of Chattanooga "Downtown Partnership". QSBevents also sponsors educational teamwork clinics utilizing Dr. Benkert as the primary instructor for non ropes course related activities.
Dr. Benkert is a volunteer at the siskin Children's Institute where his four year old daughter Lillian receives special education for Autism. Dr. Benkert is the Drum Major for the City of Chattanooga Pipe and Drum Band and frequently leads parades and retreats for Bagpipe Festivals and Highland Games. Dr. Benkert enjoys many interests ranging from weight lifting and martial arts, to chess, motivational behaviors/techniques and gardening. Dr. Benkert is the proud father of two lovely girls Genevieve (8 years old) and Lillian (4 years old). He enjoys reading, gardening and hiking with them whenever possible.
