About Benjamin

Dr. Benjamin Gaughran is a British-Caribbean conductor, educator, and scholar whose musical journey is as dynamic and vibrant as his heritage. Born in the United Kingdom with ancestral roots in Trinidad and Tobago, Benjamin brings an inclusive, expressive, and globally informed approach to choral music-making. At the heart of his work is a commitment to excellence, community, and the transformative power of music.

Benjamin’s journey began at the piano, accompanying choirs and musical theatre productions while also performing as a soloist. His love of singing soon blossomed under the mentorship of British opera singer Margaret Preece and former BBC Singers member Graham Titus. From lead roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Oliver! to singing with renowned ensembles such as The Washington Chorus, The City of Birmingham Choir, and The Royal Holloway Chorus, his performance roots remain foundational to his artistic identity.

“Warm…Humorous…Creative…”

Benjamin earned his Bachelor of Music from Royal Holloway, University of London, where he studied choral conducting with Rupert Gough. During this time, he was appointed the university’s first student conductor of the Founder’s Choir and led the Early Music Ensemble and Singers. These formative experiences sparked his enduring dedication to choral music and leadership.

His professional career spans the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States, with roles conducting university, community, and youth choirs, and directing musical theatre productions. He has worked alongside distinguished conductors including Amy Bebbington, Manvinder Rattan, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, Eugene Rogers, André Thomas, Ryan Murphy, and Kenneth Keisler. In England, he led the music department and choirs at St. Thomas More School in London, and in the U.S., he has been a guest clinician and adjudicator for school choirs and festivals across Michigan.

“Innovative…Dynamic…Passionate…”

In addition to his academic work, Benjamin has remained active in local and regional musical life. He served as Music Director of the Women’s Chamber Chorus in Ann Arbor for three seasons from 2022-2025. For the 2024-2025 season, he was Interim Director of Voices Valiant, and Chorus Director of the Lima Symphony Orchestra. A dedicated church musician for nearly two decades, he has led music across a range of Christian denominations including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic, and Congregationalist traditions.

Conductor. Educator. Artist. 

From 2021 to 2025, Benjamin was deeply engaged in the choral scene at the University of Michigan (U-M), where he completed his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in choral conducting under Dr. Eugene Rogers. His many roles included Music Director of Out of the Blue (U-M’s prison outreach choir), Assistant Conductor of the Men’s Glee Club, and Chamber Choir, and Opera Chorus Master in the Voice & Opera Department. He also served as conductor of the Orpheus Singers, University Choir, Arts Chorale, and Women’s Glee Club, and in 2025, he was nominated for the School of Music, Theatre & Dance’s Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award.

Currently, Benjamin serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Southern Virginia University, where he conducts the Chamber Singers and Men’s Chorus and teaches undergraduate courses in choral conducting, literature, and music education. He is passionate about building inclusive, high-achieving ensembles where all students — regardless of background — can thrive. His philosophy is rooted in community, compassion, and artistic growth.

Inclusivity. Excellence. Inspiration. 

Benjamin is a Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM) in Choral Conducting — a distinction held by only a select group of musicians worldwide. In 2025, he was named a finalist for The American Prize’s Dale Warland Award in Choral Conducting and was selected as a conducting fellow for Chorus America’s prestigious Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy in 2023.

His scholarship and cultural work are deeply shaped by his heritage. In 2024, Benjamin received several grants to conduct field research on the choral traditions of Trinidad and Tobago, where he is contributing to the development of the calypso chorale as an emerging genre. This work combines musical excellence with cultural celebration and seeks to elevate the global visibility of Caribbean choral artistry.

When not on the podium or in the classroom, Benjamin enjoys spending time with his wife Kerry and their five children. He loves cooking traditional Trinidadian food, playing games, traveling, and savoring the simple joys of everyday life.

Benjamin would love to hear from you! Please contact him with any booking requests, questions, or comments.