Teacher Profile: Joshua Benitez

About Joshua Benitez

Joshua Benitez is a Washington, D.C. Area based Music Educator who teaches Flute and Piano. As an active performer, he is also a versatile Classical Flutist who uses his collaborative nature to create musical performances connected to cultural ideologies.

Joshua attended The Pennsylvania State University for his Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance under the direction of Naomi Katrina Seidman. During his time at PSU, he was awarded many performance scholarships and prizes including the first prize in the 2022 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) PA State Competition, a finalist in the PSU Concerto Competition, and runner-up in the Marjorie Jane Brewster Competition. In 2022, Joshua was selected to perform with the NFA Collegiate Flute Choir in Chicago for The 50th anniversary of the convention. He was also awarded the William J and L Kesterton Memorial Fund, the Eleanor Armstrong Flute Endowment Fund from Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture and was a Penn State Bunton Waller Scholar.

Joshua earned his MM in Flute Performance at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music under the direction of Demarre McGill, Amy Taylor, Randolph Bowman and studied piccolo extensively under Dr. Heather Verbeck.

In his musical development, Joshua has performed with various groups including the Penn State Philharmonic, Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble, CCM Philharmonia, Concert Orchestra, and Wind Symphony. These engagements have led him to performing in world renown venues including Carnegie Hall, Heinz Hall, Capitol One Hall at Tysons Corner, and Cincinnati Music Hall. In 2024, He attended The Brevard Music Center where he performed in a variety of orchestral performances including “The Jungle” with The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra under the direction of Keith Lockhart and Wynton Marsalis. This experience included extensive study under Amy Porter and Dilshad Posnock who he performed with side by side.

In addition, he has performed in masterclasses for world-renowned flutists including Leone Buyse, Marianne Gedigian, Jasmine Choi and Mimi Stillman. Joshua is also an active substitute musician for The New World Symphony in Miami, Florida.

Originating from Prince George’s County in Maryland, Joshua believes in the ability of underrepresented musicians to find their voice and identity in the musical medium. Through teaching both Flute and Piano, Joshua strives to inspire young students/artists to understand their passion in the arts. From composition to performance, students should have the ability to succeed in this rigorous field of work with the guidance of a developed and experienced African-American musician. Residing in the DC area, Joshua is serving as the Flute professor at Suitland High School, and Elizabeth Seton High School, and he teaches both Piano and Flute privately.

Joshua plays on a 5% Gold Custom Haynes Flute