BENJAMIN R SOKOL BASS-BARITONE
Benjamin completed his Bachelor of Music in 2022, and his Master of Music of 2024, and is working towards completing his Professional Studies degree at Manhattan School of Music, studying with legendary bass-baritone, James Morris. This May, Benjamin will begin his tenure as a Young Artist at the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Benjamin’s accolades include the Alexandra Hunt Endowed Vocal Scholarship, winner of the 2021 Milnes Opera Idol competition, finalist in the 2022 Opera Index competition, semi-finalist in the 2023 Premiere Opera Foundation competition, and runner-up in the 2024 Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition.
Photo Gallery
Mr. Sokol, Parson, examines his riddled past with women, while enjoying his pipe and bottle of liquor.
Mr. Sokol, L’Américain, wins over the love of Angélique (Maia Gonzalez).
Mr. Sokol in a master class at the Savannah VOICE Festival.
Mr. Sokol, Sarastro, prays to protect Pamina and Tamino.
Mr. Sokol, Badger, is infuriated that his home has been taken over by a vixen.
Mr. Sokol, Orest, returns home to the shock of his sister, Elektra.
Mr. Sokol, Giorgio, joins Hyungjin Son, Riccardo, in the call to battle in protection of their homeland.
Mr. Sokol, Mustafà, learns the secret of what a “Pappataci” is, thanks to Donghoon Kang, Taddeo, and Angelo Silva, Lindoro.
Mr. Sokol, with Matthew Polenzani, after his master class hosted by the Milnes VOICE Programs.
Mr. Sokol, Raimondo, keeps the peace, as Lydia Grindatto, Lucia, goes mad thinking about her life.
Mr. Sokol, Il Commendatore, sends Don Giovanni (Andrew Wannigman) to hell.
Mr. Sokol, Der Sprecher, counsels Tamino on how to proceed to achieve enlightenment.
Mr. Sokol with his mentors and teachers, James Morris and Sherrill Milnes.
Mr. Sokol with Piotr Beczala in a Master Class hosted by the Metropolitan Opera Guild and Opera News
Mr. Sokol, Bottom, flirting with Tytania (Sofia Gotch)
Mr. Sokol, Der Tod, has had enough of people cheapening his role in the world!
Mr. Sokol, Betto Di Signa, tells La Ciesca (Hailey Gutowski) and Marco (Noah Mond), rumors of Buoso and his connections to Signa.
Full Biography
Benjamin R. Sokol is a bass-baritone whose repertoire spans several genres. Benjamin completed his BM and MM at Manhattan School of Music, where he studied classical voice with world-renowned bass-baritone, James Morris. Benjamin is currently a graduate student in Mr. Morris’ studio at MSM. In addition to James Morris, Benjamin has worked with voice teachers and coaches across the United States including Mignon Dunn, Joshua Greene, Mary Jane Johnson, Thomas Lausmann, Marlena Malas, Mario Marra, Carrie-Ann Matheson, Sherrill Milnes, Thomas Muraco, Kevin Murphy, Mark Schnaible, Shane Schag, Kenneth Merrill, Myra Huang, Bryan Wagorn and Howard Watkins. Benjamin has worked with prominent opera directors including Laura Alley, Adrienne Boris, Omer Ben-Seadia, John Giampietro Matsumoto, Fabrizio Melano, A. Scott Parry, Patricia Racette, Marcus Shields, John De Los Santos, and Dennis Whitehead Darling, and has participated in Master Classes with Dominic Armstrong, Piotr Beczala, Rachel Calloway, Simon Estes, Martin Katz, Sherrill Milnes, Adam Nielsen, Jorge Parodi and Matthew Polenzani.
Benjamin has been the recipient of many awards and accolades. He was awarded the Manhattan School of Music Alexandra Hunt Endowed Vocal Scholarship. He won the 2021 Milnes Opera Idol Competition, was a finalist in the 2022 Opera Index Competition, was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Premiere Opera Foundation Competition and was the runner up in the 2024 Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition. This May, Benjamin will be joining the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble at Lyric Opera of Chicago, as a Young Artist. In past summers, Benjamin was a Young Artist at the Merola Opera Program in 2024, Chautauqua Opera Company and Conservatory in 2023, and at the Taos Opera Institute in 2022. He has also been with the Milnes VOICE Programs for several years, participating at the Florida VOICE Project, Milnes VOICE Studio, and performing at the Savannah VOICE Festival. Most recently, Benjamin sang the role of Il Commendatore in Merola Opera Program’s production of Don Giovanni. This November, Benjamin will be taking on the role of Frére Laurent in Manhattan School of Music’s production of Roméo Et Juliette/ Benjamin’s previous roles include Der Tod, Nick Bottom, Betto Di Signa, L’Arbre, Badger, Parson, Orest, Sarastro, Sprecher, Zweiter Geharnischter Mann, Wagner, Il Commendatore, L’Americain in Angelique, Bartender in Speed Dating Tonight, and Don Magnifico and Seagull #2 in A Royal Feast, both by Michael Ching.
Press
The six "rustics" provided comic relief and a welcome break from the romantic struggles of the Athenian upper classes. Outstanding among them is Benjamin R. Sokol as Bottom the Weaver who wants to play every part in the play within the play, another grand insight of the Bard. Don't we all know someone like that? Mr. Sokol garnered plenty of laughs during the process of casting Pyramus and Thisbe but even more when he is transformed into an ass and becomes the love object of Titania who has been tricked by her manipulative husband. Did we mention how well he sang? ~Voce Di Meche
In Rossini’s, “The Italian Girl in Algiers,” bass-baritone Benjamin R. Sokol brought some brawny heft to the occasion ~ San Francisco Chronicle
Every year there are Merola singers with fully fledged voices who are ready at the gate…displaying a large and bronze-toned bass-baritone in “‘Suoni la tromba” from Bellini’s I Puritani, was Benjamin Sokol ~ Local News Matters
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
November 21-24: Frére Laurent in Manhattan School of Music’s production of Roméo Et Juliette by Charles Gounod
Click on link below for tickets:
MSM Opera Theatre: Roméo et Juliette - Manhattan School of Music (msmnyc.edu)
ROLES:
Méphistophélès (Faust), Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni), Der Tod (Der Kaiser Von Atlantis), Nick Bottom, (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Betto Di Signa, Simone (Gianni Schicchi), L’Arbre (L’Enfant Et Les Sortileges), Badger, Parson (The Cunning Little Vixen), Orest (Elektra), L’Americain (Angelique), Wagner (Faust), Bartender (Speed Dating Tonight), Sarastro, Sprecher, Zweiter Geharnischter Mann (Die Zauberflöte), Don Magnifico, Seagull #2 (A Royal Feast)
“Great voices are nature’s gift, but so are flowers. A beautiful well-kept garden is the result of toil and constant care. A singer is great only after they have developed their gifts to the highest degree possible.”