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Wayne Bennett
(541) 346-3772
wbennett@uoregon.edu

Wayne Bennett has been a faculty member of the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance since 1978 and is currently the conductor of the University Symphony and professor of clarinet studies. He also teaches in the graduate program in instrumental conducting.

Bennett received his B.M.E. degree from Oklahoma State University and the M.M. and Ph.D degrees in clarinet performance and music education from North Texas State University, where he was recognized in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Prior to joining the University of Oregon faculty, Dr. Bennett held similar positions at Texas Wesleyan College, the University of North Texas, the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, and Indiana University at Fort Wayne. He was also a visiting professor at UCLA in 1984-85. Bennett has been the music director and conductor of the Cascade Festival of Music since 1984, and has been a guest conductor and lecturer in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, and Canada, as well as with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra.

Under the auspices of Arts America and the Fulbright Commission, Bennett was the conductor of the Cyprus State Chamber Orchestra and Youth Orchestra based in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1991-92 and also served as artistic advisor to the Cypriot government during that time. He was awarded the Cypriot State Prize for his contributions to the development of the national orchestras and to the musical life of the country.

As a clarinetist, Bennett has performed with several symphony orchestras, including the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Indiana Chamber Orchestra. He has served as principal clarinet with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and is currently principal clarinet with the Sunriver Festival Orchestra. He was also a freelance artist in Dallas and Los Angeles.