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J. Scott Bennett

Scott Bennett assumed the position of Organist-Choirmaster at Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in July of 1996. Dr. Bennett came to Charleston from Jackson, Tennessee where he was Associate Professor of Organ and Theory at Union University and Organist-Choirmaster at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. In 1981 Dr. Bennett was named a Rotary Foundation Scholar, subsequently undertaking postgraduate studies in organ performance and choral conducting at the Hochschule fuer Musik in Cologne, Germany. His teachers there included Michael Schneider (organ) and Peter Neumann (conducting). A frequent recitalist, Bennett performed on the West German Radio Network, and played to critical acclaim as the featured artist at the Eleventh Annual International Management Symposium in St. Gall, Switzerland. Dr. Bennett earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance from Stetson University (Paul Jenkins), and the Master of Music degree in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music (David Craighead). After returning from Europe, he began doctoral study at Eastman with Russell Saunders. He finished his doctoral studies in performance and history at the University of Memphis with John Peterson. Bennett also holds a Diploma in German from the Humboldt-Institut in Ratzenried, Germany. Dr. Bennett has performed extensively throughout the southeastern and northeastern United States as well as abroad. Invited to perform on the Piccolo Spoleto Organ Concert Series in Charleston, South Carolina in 1997, 1998, and 2002, the 2002 Piccolo Spoleto Festival ­featured Bennett in a special event performing the complete organ works of Maurice Duruflé. Dr. Bennett and the Grace Church Choir have also performed frequently with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Most notably, Bennett conducted Grace Choir in the North American premiere of British composer Paul Spicer’s Easter Oratorio at the 2001 Piccolo Spoleto Festival. In June of 2002 Dr. Bennett undertook a recital tour in Finland, Sweden, and the Alands, ­performing on recital series in Helsinki, Turku, Stockholm and Mariehamn (Aland). In April 2003 Bennett appeared as soloist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in their final Master Works performance of the season performing Joseph Jongen’s Symphonie Concertante and Saint-Saens’ Third Symphony.