James Benoit, a native of Niskayuna, New York, is the newly appointed Principal Timpanist of the Seattle Symphony. Previously, Benoit was the Associate Principal Percussionist and Assistant Principal Timpanist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and spent three seasons as a section percussionist with the Sarasota Opera.
As an educator, Benoit was on faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and at the Luzerne Music Center. An avid supporter of music in the classroom, he also has worked as a teaching and performing artist with Associate Solo Artists, a non-profit organization that provides artistic interdisciplinary programs to children, teachers, businesses and social establishments by giving concerts, masterclasses and workshops in schools throughout New York.
Benoit received his Artist Diploma from Duquesne University, his Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School and his Bachelor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music.
Watch here. Listen below.
0:00 Intro and Hello.
1:25 Your first year with the Seattle Symphony? The tenure process.
6:40 Innovations at the Seattle Symphony. 20:03 Studying with Sal Rabbio?
22:00 Your jazz experience?
29:25 Carter timp solos? Important books and rep.?
43:10 Casey: Deagan Tower Chimes
49:16 Important skills outside of your musicianship?
