Mary Beth Bennett

Mary Beth Bennett is a recognized performer, improviser and composer living in historic Richmond, Virginia. She serves on the adjunct music faculty of the University of Richmond, and is Director of Music Ministries at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Gloucester, Virginia.

The winner of numerous awards in performance and composition, she has served as a judge for the International Year of the Organ Competition and the National Competition in Organ Improvisation of the American Guild of Organists. This year, she won the national AGO/ECS Publishing Award in Choral Composition.

Having held positions in Washington, D.C. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and as Ceremonial Organ for the U.S. Government, she earned her degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the University of Southern California, Stetson University, and the Staatliche Hochschüle für Musik (Cologne Germany).

As a conductor, she has led a number of distinguished choirs including the professional choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine and the 120 voice West Los Angeles Chorale, and has served as accompanist for the American Repertory Singers, James River Singers, the Georgetown Chorale and others.

Dr. Bennett’s recordings have garnered critical acclaim, and her performances and compositions have been featured on American Public Media's PIPEDREAMS program with Michael Barone.. Her compositions are published by Augsburg, Concordia, National, World Library, G.I.A., Hope and Oxford University Press publishing companies.