Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, Ms. Benefield first moved to 
Nevada in 1993 to attend UNR.  While at UNR, she student
taught at Carson High School and graduated in 1998 with a BM 
in Music Education. Ms. Benefield is in the process of completing 
my MM in Choral Conducting through California State University
in Los Angeles.  She is also the Musical Director for the Nevada
Opera Youth Chorus as well as the Brewery Arts Center Theater
productions.  She is a member of AGEHR, MENC, NEA and ACDA. 
In 2009, she was given a “Light of Education” award from the 
Ormsby County Education Assoc. as well as named “Nevada
Music Educator of the Year” by the Nevada Music Educators 
Association.  In her personal time, she can often be seen 
performing with local arts organizations such as Nevada Opera, 
Brewery Arts Center Summerstock and BACPAC productions,
the Reno Philharmonic as well as the Toccata Orchestra of 
Lake Tahoe.  Her favorite stage roles from her career include 
Reno Sweeney in “Anything Goes,” Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney
Todd and Princess Winifred in Once Upon a Mattress. 

Ms. Benefield currently teaches Musical Theater and Choir at 
Carson High School and is the co-sponsor for Senator Pride.