Hi all!

I’m Bobby Benjamin, and I’m excited to be returning to NRS for my second season as a Tenor II. I am originally from Stamford, CT, and have been up and down the East Coast in my adult life: I lived in Poughkeepsie, NY where I went to Vassar College and met my now wife; moved to Boston, MA for a few years, then New York City, where I lived in Queens for 5 years and Harlem for 1 year, where my son Rowan was born (2 weeks before we left!); moved to Baltimore, MD, for about a year and half; and arrived in Jersey City in March 2024, where hopefully we can put down some roots!

I joined NRS last fall looking to become more connected to my new community and reconnect to my love of singing. As a result, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to also join two local projects: the Zombie Opera (thanks Natasha!) and the Jersey City Cabaret (organized by our very own Hannah Lee) — So doing pretty well with my goal of getting more connected so far!

Prior to joining this group, my last time singing in a group was 14 years ago in an ill-fated barbershop quintet in college. I have been singing in an organized fashion since a friend got me into the A Capella choir in my freshman year of high school and I was a Tenor I. In an unorganized fashion, I have been singing in the shower since at least age 7. I have this activity and Maroon 5 and Sarah Bareilles to thank for a well-developed head voice and comfort with higher pitches.

My current occupation is stay-at-home husband/father, where I spend my Fridays and weekends attending to a small toddler, and the rest of the time cleaning up the resultant chaos. Previously, I made use of my Master’s in Social Work to work as a trauma-informed therapist, then later director of clinical services, for a foster care agency for a little over seven years.

When I am not singing, I enjoy listening to audiobooks and podcasts: currently working through the works of Sarah J. Maas (on a romantasy kick right now), and my favorite podcasts are Worlds Beyond Number, The Ezra Klein Show, 5-4, and Hidden Brain. When reading physical books, I have tended toward non-fiction (most recently: Braiding Sweetgrass, The Message, Heavy, and The Philosophical Baby), but I also love sci-fi and fantasy (esp. Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, and Ursula K. Le Guin). Though given my current occupation, I am also frequently reading “Harold and the Purple Crayon”, “Tad and Dad”, and “The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh”.