ABOUT THE ARTIST Benjamin Pessognelli, piano Pianist Benjamin Pessognelli is an experienced performer, having given numerous recitals and performances as a soloist and collaborative musician. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Piano Performance from West Chester University studying with Dr. Igor Resnianski, Benjamin was awarded a full Graduate Assistantship to continue his studies at WCU as a Master’s student in Piano Pedagogy. During his studies at WCU, he worked on and performed compositions from all major styles and composers, including Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Ravel, and Prokofiev to name a few. Benjamin has performed extensively at WCU in Keyboard Honors Recitals and has performed as a soloist and collaborative musician in Wells School of Music Convocations and recitals. In 2023, he was a winner of the WCU Concerto Competition, performing the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G minor with the symphony orchestra. In 2022 and 2023, Benjamin was accepted to a competitive summer piano festival, the New Orleans Piano Institute, where he took lessons and performed in masterclasses for nationally renowned pianists and pedagogues. Benjamin’s love for collaborative piano began when he was in sixth grade, singing and playing the piano for the Central York School District elementary choir. Throughout middle and high school, he continued to accompany the school choirs, and in high school auditioned for and qualified to accompany the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 7 Chorus three years in a row. In his senior year, he qualified to accompany the PMEA Region V Chorus. For the past two years, Benjamin has been an official accompanist for the West Chester University Opera Theatre and voice students. He was the pianist for the chamber operetta Cendrillon by Pauline Viardot and radio opera Beauty and the Beast by Vittorio Giannini. Additionally, Benjamin had the opportunity to study and perform harpsichord in the opera Alcina by George Frideric Handel. In his free time, Ben enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. He is deeply grateful to have had such formative experiences at West Chester University, and is looking forward to the next chapter of his musical journey.
Issuu converts static files into: and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.