Chicago native Benjamin Rivera has dedicated his career to the inspiring and wonderfully varied art of ensemble singing. As a professional musician, he began as a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, where he served for more than twenty seasons. Rivera also sang with Chicago a cappella, the Grant Park Chorus, and several other ensembles, appearing frequently as a soloist and performing on dozens of recordings.
Since transitioning to full-time conducting, Rivera now holds positions in three states. His current roles include chorus director and regular conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in Indiana; chorus master of the Florentine Opera in Wisconsin; and in Illinois as choirmaster of the Church of the Ascension, high holidays choir director at Temple Sholom and assistant director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Rivera has prepared ensembles for performances with the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony and St. Louis Symphony orchestras, along with the Grant Park Music Festival, collaborating with numerous international conductors and performers. He has conducted offstage forces in performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, both in Orchestra Hall and at the Ravinia Festival, and he is a frequent guest director with a wide range of volunteer and professional choruses.
Especially adept with languages, Rivera frequently coaches ensembles in German, Spanish and Latin, among others. He holds degrees in voice and music theory from North Park and Roosevelt universities, respectively, and a DMA in conducting from Northwestern University. Rivera lives with his family in Beverly, a neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago.
May 2024
