Award-winning New Zealand born Samoan baritone Benson Wilson, winner of the 64th Kathleen Ferrier Award, is currently an English National Opera Harewood Artist and is quickly establishing himself as one of today’s most promising young baritones. 

Benson begins his 22/23 season making his company debut with the Welsh National Opera, in Puccini’s La Boheme, as Schaunard on tour around the UK. Benson then returns to the ENO this season in Calixto Bieito’s production of Carmen in the role of Morales and will sing the role of Horemhab in McDermott’s iconic production Phillip Glass’s Akhnaten. 

In concert Benson makes his debuts with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra this November performing Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony and will also sing Handel’s Messiah debuting with the Auckland Choral Society. 

Benson has given recitals at the Brighton, Oxford Lieder, Leeds Lieder, Kings Lynn and Ludlow Song festivals, at Wigmore Hall and St Martin in the Fields, with pianists Iain Burnside, Lucy Colquhoun, Ella O’Neill, James Baillieu and Joseph Middleton. He has appeared in concert with the Orchestra of Opera North, and for Auckland Opera Studio, and most recently performed Finzi Et In Terra Pax with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo. 

Benson won the 64th Kathleen Ferrier Award and New Zealand’s premiere singing competition, the Lexus Song Quest and is a former young artist of the Georg Solti Accademia di Bel Canto, the Samling Young Artist Programme, the International Vocal Arts Institute, New Zealand Opera School and the National Opera Studio in London.