About Mr. Bensen

 

Mr. Brad Bensen is the Director of Choirs and AP Music Theory at Panther Creek High School in Cary, NC. Mr. Bensen previously taught at Millbrook High School in Raleigh, NC and at New Bridge Middle School in Jacksonville, NC. Mr. Bensen received an undergraduate degree in Music Education with concentrations in both vocal and instrumental music from Virgina Tech in 1998. Additionally, Mr. Bensen holds a Master's Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University.

Mr. Bensen has a passion for working with young people-- even more so than his passion for musical excellence. The choirs at Panther Creek High School have tripled in size since inception. The groups have received numerous awards and consistent superior festival ratings. Mr. Bensen has taken choirs to perform in locations such as Williamsburg, Washington D.C., New York City, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, and at many local venues and community events.

Continual learning and education is a goal of Mr. Bensen's. He has been able to study with many wonderful musicians in the past, including Dr. Robert Shaw (late conductor of the Robert Shaw Chorale and Atlanta Symphony Chorus), Dr. Rodney Eichenburger (world-known choral conductor, clinician and educator), and Dr. Kevin Fenton (nationally acclaimed choral professor at Florida State University).

Mr. Bensen serves Walton Music as an advisor where he reviews choral submissions that are requesting publication. His choirs have also recorded several different choral publications currently for sale. Mr. Bensen also composes choral music, and some of his compositions are performed by students at PCHS. Additionally, Mr. Bensen has served North Carolina in the following capacities:

  • Conductor for local choral events and All-County choirs in North Carolina

  • Served the North Carolina Music Educator's Association as a District President, and Music List Chairperson

  • Appointed by Governor Mike Easley to North Carolina Textbook Adoption Committee to serve as a regional comissioner

  • Former Staff Development Coordinator for Wake County HS choirs

  • Numerous presentations at NCMEA annual music conference

  • Chair of Wake County HS choral textbook committee

  • Presenter for Performance Based Licensure standards at NC Northeast Middle School Conferences

    Additionally, Mr. Bensen is one of North Carolina's National Board Certified teachers and is a trained mentor-teacher at Panther Creek HS.

    Mr. Bensen is married (as seen above to wife, Alycia Bensen), has a daughter (Kailyn), and stays very busy even outside of school. He plays the trumpet for various occassions and sings in his church choir. Additional activties he enjoys include avid mountain and road biking, home improvement, working out at Golds Gym, hiking, watching movies, fishing, cooking and eating out. Some have reported that he has some sort of addiction to homebaked cookies, but this claim has not been fully substantiated...yet.

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