Benjamin Klemme is a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting at the University of Minnesota where he is a student of Mark Russell Smith; he conducts the University's Campus Orchestra and is an Assistant Conductor of the Opera Theatre. His previous posts include Music Director of the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association, Founding Music Department Chair at New Mexico School for the Arts, Assistant Conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra.