Stephen Benham, President

Stephen Benham is currently Professor of Music Education at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA). He has also served on the faculties of Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) and Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA). He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota (B.S.), the University of Michigan (M.M.), and the University of Rochester––Eastman School of Music (Ph.D.). Prior to this, he held teaching and conducting positions in both public and private schools in Michigan, New York, and Oregon.

In 1996, Stephen received an invitation to begin the Ukraine Project under the auspices of MIWC. At the same time, he and his family sensed that the Lord was leading them in a new direction. In 1997, they left Oregon, where he was a public school music educator, so he could pursue graduate studies. An extended visit to Kyiv in the same year confirmed God’s direction for their involvement in newly developing work in Ukraine and underscored the crucial role of specialized training and skills for effective cross-cultural ministry. The Ukraine Project ultimately led to the development of projects in neighboring countries, such as Georgia and in the Baltic Region (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland). His current projects are located in Zambia and Nepal.

Stephen was appointed Executive Director of MIWC in 2004 when the board of directors determined that the evolving needs of the organization required an expansion of the administrative team. At the same time, the growing recognition of the importance of the cross-cultural models employed in MIWC projects led to an increase in the number of invitations and requests for MIWC leadership and involvement in other national and international locations. The MIWC board appointed him president in 2011.

The training of ministers, church leaders, teachers, directors, and musicians is one of the most important aspects of his function at MIWC. In addition to the numerous seminars, conferences and workshops provided for Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking church organizations and schools in Europe and the United States, his training and experiences in public school and higher education have resulted in numerous opportunities to speak at state schools and educational professionals outside of the church setting, in government-sponsored conservatories and educational institutions in Eastern Europe.

Dr. Benham is in high demand as a clinician, guest conductor, and speaker at national and state conventions, with professional appearances in nearly 40 states and more than 30 countries in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia, including more than 250 clinics, multiple residencies, and extended workshops. His areas of expertise include string pedagogy, methods, curriculum, assessment, and teacher training. Dr. Benham is in high demand as a clinician, conductor, and speaker. His areas of expertise include string pedagogy, methods, curriculum, and assessment. His research interests include cultural issues in music education, increasing access to music instruction in underserved populations, and culturally relevant pedagogy, and his work has been featured in numerous international research seminars and conferences. He is the lead author of the ASTA String Curriculum: Standards, Goals, Learning Sequences for Essential Skills and Knowledge in K–12 String Programs (Published by ASTA; distributed by Alfred) and Yes You Can! The Band and Choral Director’s Guide to Teaching Strings (published by Carl Fischer). He has also authored several works for scholarly journals, handbooks, and encyclopedias, including publications by Oxford University Press and Sage Publications. He is also a member of the writing team for Alfred’s Sound Innovations: Creative Warm-ups––Exercises for Intonation, Rhythm, Bowing, and Creativity for Intermediate String Orchestra. He is an internationally-recognized leader in the music education profession, having served in leadership positions in several states, and is past-president of the American String Teachers Association.

An unexpected blessing that has resulted from the development of the Ukraine Project has been the opportunity to work extensively with Slavic immigrant families in the United States. Steve and his wife, Kris—who is an active professional accompanist and piano teacher––are heavily involved in cross-cultural ministry in the local community, providing counseling, training, and assistance in meeting the challenges that come with adapting to a new culture, in addition to serving in teaching and music ministries. Kris also regularly participates in MIWC overseas ministry teams in addition to working in bible study and discipleship ministries in the US.

Steve & Kris attend Peters Creek Baptist Church in South Park, Pennsylvania, and also serve regularly at Pittsburgh Slavic Baptist Church.