Shawn Bennett

Shawn Bennett is a dynamic conductor, educator, and performer from Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. He holds degrees in both Music (Trombone Performance) and Music Education from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and is currently enrolled in the MMus Orchestral Conducting program at the University of Toronto. At home in NL, Shawn worked for many years with the NL English School District (NLESD) as a music specialist, and had opportunities to conduct and perform with the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Shallaway Youth Choir, the Newman Sound Men’s Choir, and the “Off the Cuff” Community Choir, for whom he served as Artistic Director from 2018 to 2019. Through his travels and studies he has led the VoA Academy Orchestra and Choir (NYC), the ICWC Orchestra (Atlanta), the IIC Academy Orchestra (Greece), the University of Redlands Symphony Orchestra (CA), the UofT Symphony Orchestra, UofT Campus Philharmonic, and the Oakville Youth Symphony. Shawn has had the pleasure of learning from many beloved and respected conductors throughout his studies and travels, including Prof. Uri Mayer and Dr. Gillian MacKay (UofT), Dr. Nicholle Andrews and Prof. Co Boi Nguyen (University of Redlands), Kellie Walsh (Shallaway Youth Choir), and Dr. Jason Caslor (Arizona State University). In addition to completing graduate studies, Shawn currently teaches instrumental music at the Sterling Hall School for Boys in North York, ON, and was recently named one of Orchestra Toronto’s Apprentice Conductors for the 2022-23 season. He is thrilled to be participating in the 2023 RBC Canadian Conductor Showcase, and would love to thank the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for the incredible opportunity!