Kent, Ohio — After a national search, the Glauser School of Music and the College of the Arts at Kent State University announce the appointment of Benjamin Lorenzo, D.M.A., as the next director of bands. He will join the School of Music faculty in the fall 2022 semester.
“It is an honor to join the esteemed faculty of the Glauser School of Music at Kent State University,’ said Lorenzo. “Bands at Kent State have a rich history of transforming the lives of students, serving the community, and engaging the profession through innovative work. It is a privilege to continue this tradition into the future. I look forward to making music with the students, collaborating with faculty and staff, and joining the Northeast Ohio community.”
Currently, Lorenzo serves as associate director of bands and director of athletic bands at the University of Arkansas where he leads their 350-member marching band and conducts the Wind Symphony and Concert Band. He also teaches courses in conducting and music education. His previous experiences as a band director and music educator include positions in Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, including serving as assistant director of bands at Oklahoma State University.
With a passion for wind bands in Latin America, he’s worked with ensembles in Mexico, Panama, Peru, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. He’s also been invited to adjudicate and guest conduct ensembles in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Austria. In the United States, he makes regular appearances with honor, collegiate and professional ensembles across the country, including the West Point Academy Band.
Complementing his work on the podium and in the classroom, Lorenzo is also a published arranger, orchestrator and scholar. His solo violin and wind band transcription of John Corigliano’s “The Red Violin Chaconne” earned praise from the composer and is performed regularly by university and professional ensembles. He’s also arranged many works for marching bands, wind bands and the Dallas Winds. As a scholar, Lorenzo has authored articles for the Journal of Band Research, the WASBE Journal, and the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series. Additionally, he's presented research at the Texas Bandmasters Association, Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and College Band Directors National Association conferences, among others.
Lorenzo’s additional professional activities include chairing the College Band Directors National Association Diversity Board and serving on the Music Education Alliance’s advisory board. He holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Florida International University.
“We are so excited to welcome Dr. Lorenzo to the Kent State School of Music,” said Kent McWilliams, director and professor of the Glauser School. “Our band program has seen significant growth over the past three years under the leadership of Dr. Wendy K. Matthews and Dr. Darin Olson, director of athletic bands. With the addition of Ben Lorenzo as the director of bands, the school now has a team of three enthusiastic leaders to further build on the strengths and accomplishments of the Kent State band program.”
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Contact for media:
Joni Koneval — Kent State University College of the Arts
jkoneval@kent.edu, 330-672-2760
www.kent.edu/music