Benjamin Hawkinson is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ University. There he conducts numerous ensembles including the University Choir Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s flagship touring ensemble, and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's premiere vocal jazz ensemble OneVoice. Additional teaching responsibilities includes courses in Conducting and Choral Rehearsal Techniques. Ensembles under his direction tour annually throughout the region. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ University Choir has just returned from a performance tour to Belgium and France. OneVoice’s recent conference performance invitations include the 2022 Jazz Educators Network in Dallas, TX and the Illinois Music Educator’s Convention in January of 2023. OneVoice was the recipient of two DownBeat Student Music Awards in 2024.
Dr. Hawkinson is in demand as a conductor, clinician, and presenter with recent credits including Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, numerous honor choirs in both traditional choir and vocal jazz areas and presenting lectures at conferences and universities that focus on music educator mental health entitled "Beating the Burnout: Time Management for Teachers". This topic was recently featured on the podcast Choir Fam. Dr. Hawkinson is Director of Music at Central Christian Church in Decatur, IL.
Dr. Hawkinson holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Texas Tech University, a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, and a Bachelor in Vocal Music Education from Northern Arizona University.