Benjamin Worley

Benjamin Worley is a Lecturer in Voice at the Department of Music, University of Missouri–St. Louis, within the College of Arts and Sciences. A St. Louis native and accomplished baritone, he has performed dynamic roles in operatic works by Verdi, Donizetti, and Beethoven, including Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Reverend Hale in The Crucible, and the titular role in Le nozze di Figaro. His research focus includes vocal performance, opera history, and African-American contributions to grand opera.

• Education: BA in Music and Anthropology, MM in Vocal Performance, MA in Musicology (all from University of Missouri–Columbia)

Worley emphasizes helping students discover their natural voices through singing and shares a passion for Verdi’s operatic works, which he considers ideal for storytelling through music. His 2018 publication in the Journal of Singing explores the legacy of Harry Lawrence Freeman, an African-American pioneer in grand opera.