Melinda Benson is a graduate of the University of Iowa where she received her Doctorate in Voice Performance and Pedagogy (ABD) in December of 2007 and  Master of Arts in 2005. She is a native of upstate NY and received her Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music. She is currently writing her thesis paper on the songs of Noel Coward and plans to finish by Spring 2010. Melinda has been teaching private voice for 10 years including two and one half years as a teacher's assistant at the University of Iowa and one year as an adjunct voice professor  at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA.  She recently received her Kindermusik certification and will begin teaching at the YMCA in January 2010.

Melinda currently resides in Newark, DE where she maintains a voice studio out of her home. She is also a soloist with the Delaware Valley Chorale of Wilmington, DE. She is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the College Music Society (CMS). Recent performances include: the role of Second Touriére in Suor Angelica with Center City Opera in Philadelphia, PA, the role of Clarina in The Marriage Contract with University of Iowa Opera, the role of Hebe in HMS Pinafore with Cedar Rapids Opera, the role of Sarah Good in The Crucible with University of Iowa Opera, and Praskowia in The Merry Widow with University of Iowa Opera. She has also performed several solo recitals that included songs from the Broadway, Classical and Cabaret genres.