Biography

Fritz Benz has taught in Rhode Island schools for over 40 years and recently retired from the South Kingstown High School where he led the Fine Arts Department and conducted the school’s Bands and Orchestras. Additionally, he taught Instrumental Methods at Providence College for ten years and was a full time lecturer and band assistant at URI in the early 1990’s.

His music ensembles have been recognized for their excellence in state, regional, and national festivals. Additionally, he has been honored on numerous occasions as an All-State and Regional Conductor, Clinician and Adjudicator throughout southeastern New England. When not working with his students, Fritz maintains a busy schedule as a professional freelance trumpeter and member of the Rhode Island-based band Brass Attack, performing around Southeastern New England.

He has been an active member-at-large of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association Executive Board and served as the Large Ensemble Festival Chair and Associate Editor of his state professional journal. Fritz has authored many articles over the years on classroom and rehearsal methods, curriculum design and incorporating technology in the music classroom. Several of his articles have been featured in state journals around the country and he was published nationally in the MENC/NAfME teacher resource book in 2003.