Meet Monica
Monica Benson is an accomplished and dynamic arts leader with extensive experience in strategic program development, artistic planning, and community engagement within the orchestral and classical music sectors. With a passion for innovative, artistically significant programming and a deep understanding of the symphonic industry, Benson excels in creating and executing programming that pushes artistic boundaries and engages audiences.
As the Director of Education and Community Engagement with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Benson has worked closely with the CEO, Director of Artistic Operations, Music Director and Musicians Committee to co-curate and produce orchestral programming that aligns with the organization’s vision and engages a wide range of audiences. She has been instrumental in developing new concert experiences, including partnerships with guest artists and organizations. Highlights include securing Peter CottonTale and Chicago Historian "Dilla" as Artists in Residence, as well as planning unique audience engagement activities at concerts such as a virtual orchestra experience using VR headsets, a pop-up ‘science of snow’ exhibit in collaboration with the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and a Bomba demonstration led by performers from the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. Notable partnerships also include three sold out evenings of a live performance of multidisciplinary artist Wu Tsang’s Moby Dick; or, The White Whale in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art.
In her previous role as Executive Director of Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Benson successfully led the organization through the transition from online content back to in-person performances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. She maintained the fiscal health of the organization, performed grant writing, and oversaw staff transitions. Benson coordinated the guest appearance of Håkan Hardenberger, one of the world’s leading trumpet soloists, alongside Esteban Batallán of the Philadelphia Orchestra, trumpet soloist Stephen Burns, and Rebecca Oliverio of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, in a successful concert celebrating the organization’s 25th anniversary. Benson also oversaw the commissioning of works by notable composers, including Shawn Okpebholo and Fernanda Aoki Navarro, and successfully managed the commissioning, American premiere and European tour of Jacob TV’s Freedom Songs. In addition to performances, Benson organized artist chats with composers such as Adolphus Hailstork, providing audiences with an intimate opportunity to engage directly with the creators behind the music. Benson cultivated relationships with a wide network of artists, agents, and artistic partners, ensuring that Fulcrum Point was known for its commitment to commissioning and premiering bold, new music. She also coordinated a rare performance of La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela’s The Melodic Version of The Second Dream of The High-Tension Line Stepdown Transformer from The Four Dreams of China (1962) in Dream Light, in partnership with the Chicago Humanities Festival. Benson is adept at managing all facets of artistic planning, including budget administration, contract negotiation, and the coordination of guest artists and ensembles.
She has a proven track record of executing complex programs, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring that artistic and logistical goals are met efficiently. Her leadership also includes the development of educational programs, such as a music education curriculum that combines music and storytelling elements for Chicago Public School students. With a Master of Music Degree in Classical Trumpet Performance from DePaul University, Benson combines her musical expertise with exceptional leadership and organizational skills. In addition to her professional work, Benson maintains an active freelance trumpet career, performing for a variety of organizations, including the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bears.