Eric Benjamin, Music Director of the Akron Youth Symphony, will speak at the monthly meeting of the West Akron Kiwanis on Feb. 28.

A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with degrees in music education and orchestral conducting, Eric began his professional conducting career as resident conductor of the Akron Symphony Orchestra and now serves as music director of the Tuscarawas Philharmonic and the Alliance Symphony.

He has appeared as guest conductor with orchestras in Canton, Columbus, Cleveland, Wooster and Erie, Pa. Active as a composer and arranger, Eric’s works have been performed by orchestras nationally. Recently, the Canton Symphony opened its season with the premiere of his An Occasional Overture.

Eric is a committed educator and has taught music at the elementary, secondary and college level. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at University of Mount Union where he conducts the orchestra, teaches conducting and a course on music and culture. He also directs the University Chorus and teaches at Kent State’s Tuscarawas campus.

“I love to engineer interactions between young people and music,” Benjamin said, “events that hook up scholarship, creativity, performance and achievement with that electric current that makes a student want to do music in the first place.”

The evening, which will be hosted by the Kiwanis Club, begins promptly at 6:15 p.m. in the Stonebridge Grill Room at Rockynol, located at 1150 W. Market Street. Tickets for the buffet dinner are $10 a person and the event is open to the public. Because seating is limited, reservations are preferred to ensure your seat.

For reservations and other queries please contact club president Bill Melver by email at wmelver@gmail.com or by phone at 330.256.0741.

With profits from 30 years of pancake breakfasts, The Kiwanis Club of West Akron is one of the longest continuous financial supporters of the Akron Youth Symphony. Their annual Flapjacks and Flowers fundraiser will be held this year at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1250 W. Exchange St., on April 29.

Kiwanis International is 101 years old, a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.