LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

William Bennett was nominated by Charles Harrison.

"Mr. Bennett is the Director of Choirs at Cane Bay High School and the Director of Music at Summerville Presbyterian Church. He was selected as a top 10 finalist for the 2015 GRAMMY Music Educator Award and a top 25 Semi-Finalist for the 2023 and 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Awards. He was the 2009-2010 Cane Bay High School Teacher of the Year and has served as the Lead Choral Teacher in Berkeley County School District (BCSD) for multiple years," said Harrison.

"He has led clinics on leadership in a music classroom, choral techniques, and sight singing for the South Carolina Music Educator's Association (SCMEA) and the South Carolina chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Mr. Bennett has served as a choral clinician for SCMEA Middle School Clinics and Lexington 1 District Honor Choir. He served as the SC ACDA President (2017 - 2019) and is the current President-Elect for the SCMEA Choral Division. He previously served on the Solo and Ensemble and All-State Committees for SCMEA," said Harrison.

"Additionally, he was the site logistics coordinator for the 2013 National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) National Conference held in Charleston, SC. Under his direction, choirs have performed at multiple SC ACDA and SCMEA Conferences, the ACDA Chattanooga and Mobile Southern Division Conferences, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and the Washington National Cathedral. Cane Bay Choirs consistently receive Superior ratings with Distinction and Grand Champion distinctions at numerous choral festivals, including being named the 2016 AAAA State Champions and the 2019 and 2023 Palmetto State Choral Festival Grand Champions. Additionally, they were named the 2018 and 2022 Georgia Southern Invitational Grand Champions, the 2016 Lander Choral Festival Champions, and the 2017 College of Charleston Choral Invitational Grand Champions," said Harrison.

"They have earned top placements at numerous other choral festivals across the Southeast. Previous appointments include Conductor of the University Chorus and Adjunct Professor of Music at the College of Charleston; Assistant Conductor of the Taylor Festival Choir; and Associate Director of Choirs at Wando High School. He holds a Master's in Music: Choral and Orchestral Conducting from Louisiana State University, where he studied choral and orchestral conducting. He holds a BA in Music: Vocal Performance from the College of Charleston, where he graduated Cum Laude," said Harrison.