Bennie C. Caston Jr.
CONTACT
EDUCATION
Doctor of Musical Arts in Church Music, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005
Dissertation: Selected Songs of Stephen Dankner (b. 1944)
Master of Music in Church Music, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1998
Bachelor of Music in Church Music, William Carey College, 1996
RESEARCH INTEREST
Dr. Caston is interested in these areas of research: Baroque Vocal Performance Practice.
Dr. Ben Caston serves as Professor of Voice at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, bringing over three decades of experience in music ministry and performance to his teaching. Students appreciate his ability to combine practical wisdom and musical artistry, a strength shaped over 30 years of service in Baptist churches across Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas.
A lyric tenor and accomplished oratorio soloist, Dr. Caston has performed with numerous choral societies, symphonies, orchestras, and colleges. His notable solo performances several of Bach’s works including St. Matthew Passion, Magnificat, Easter Oratorio, Christmas Oratorio, and Cantatas 4, 61, 80, 140, and 191. Other solo performances include Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Haydn’s Creation Mass, Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers.
As a conductor, he has led major works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Rutter’s Magnificat and Requiem, Michael John Trotta’s Requiem, and Heather Sorenson’s Requiem.
In addition to his teaching and performance career, Dr. Caston is an active member of several professional organizations including the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, and The Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. His professional involvement reflects his commitment to excellence in both sacred and academic music communities.
Dr. Caston and his wife, Rebecca, make their home in Fort Worth, Texas, where they enjoy life with their two children, Clay and Sydney.
August 2015 – Present: Minister of Music, Gambrell Street Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX
July 2010 – July 2015: Associate Pastor & Minister of Music, First Baptist Church, Helen, GA
January 2007 – June 2010: Interim Minister of Music, First Baptist Church, Perry, GA
January 2006 – December 2006: Interim Minister of Music, First Baptist Church, Cordele, GA
August 1999 – July 2005: Minister of Music, Oak Park Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA
May 1997 – August 1997: Minister of Music & Senior Adults, Roseland Park Baptist Church, Picayune, MS
November 1994 – May 1997: Minister of Music/Youth, Georgetown Baptist Church, Georgetown, MS
“J.S. Bach: Lessons Learned from His Life and Music” in The Artistic Theologian, Vol. 12 (Spring 2025), read here.
Bob Chilcott
- St. John Passion (Evangelist role), Highland Park Presbyterian Church – Apr. 2024
Gabriel Jackson
- Requiem, Highland Park Chorale, Moody Performance Hall – Sep. 2023
J.S. Bach
- Easter Oratorio, San Antonio Chamber Chorale and San Antonio Philharmonic Orchestra—April 2025
- Magnificat, Highland Park Chorale, Highland Park Presbyterian, Dallas—Dec. 2023
- St. Matthew Passion, Highland Park Chorale, Moody Performance Hall – Mar. 2023
- Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 & Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 – Crescendo Bach Concert, Zion Lutheran Church – May 2023
- Gloria in Excelsis, BWV 191, Delta Youth Chorale, Monroe, LA – Dec. 2023
- Christmas Oratorio, Highland Park Chorale, Highland Park Presbyterian, Dallas – Dec. 2024
George Frideric Handel – Messiah
- Highland Park Presbyterian Church – Dec. 2024, Dec. 2022, Dec. 2021
- Park Cities Presbyterian Church – Apr. 2023
- West University Baptist Church, Houston, TX – Dec. 2021
- Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX – Dec. 15, 2019
- Bass Hall, Fort Worth, TX (with Fort Worth Symphony and Southwestern Seminary Master Chorale) – Dec. 2015, Nov. 2017
- Truett Auditorium, Southwestern Seminary – Nov. 2015, Nov. 2016, Nov. 2017, Nov. 2018, Nov. 2019
- Christ Church Anglican of Savannah – Mar. 14, 2010; Mar. 15, 2015
- Brewton-Parker College – Nov. 16, 2008
- Augusta Choral Society – Dec. 17, 2005; Apr. 14, 2006
- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary – 1996, 1997, 2004
Chris Teichler – The Good Samaritan
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (World Premiere) – Nov. 1, 2016
- Mid-Cities Chamber Choir
- Plymouth Park United Methodist Church, Irving, TX – May 10, 2018
- First United Methodist Church, Coppell, TX – May 11, 2018
Théodore Dubois – The Seven Last Words of Christ
- Fort Valley United Methodist Church – Apr. 3, 2015
- Covington/Conyers Choral Arts Society – May 16–17, 2013
- Brewton-Parker College – Mar. 29, 2007
Camille Saint-Saëns – Christmas Oratorio
- Hilton Head Choral Society – Dec. 8–9, 2006; Dec. 14, 2012
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Solemn Vespers and Coronation Mass, Holy Trinity Church, Dallas—Oct. 2024
- Solemn Vespers and Missa Brevis in F, Highland Park Chorale – Sep. 2024
- Mass in C Minor, Clemson University Choir and Orchestra – Apr. 22, 2014
- Requiem
- Southwestern Master Chorale – Apr. 18, 2017
- Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra – Mar. 25, 2013
Franz Schubert
- Mass in F, St. Andrew Methodist Church, Plano—Oct. 2024
- Mass in G, Hilton Head Choral Society – Apr. 24, 2009
- Mass in F, St. Andrew Methodist Church, Plano – Oct. 2024
Joseph Haydn
- Schöpfungsmesse, Highland Park Presbyterian Church – Sep. 16, 2022
Felix Mendelssohn
- Elijah, TMC, FBC Newnan, and Mastersingers – Oct. 20, 2012
Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Serenade to Music, Georgia College and State University – Mar. 17, 2012
Ludwig van Beethoven
- Mass in C, Highland Park Chorale, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Dallas--June 2025
- Ninth Symphony, Gainesville Symphony Orchestra, GA – Oct. 24, 2009
Carl Orff
- Carmina Burana, Georgia College and State University – Apr. 4, 2009
Arthur Honegger
- King David, Brewton-Parker College – Apr. 30, 2006
Gary Hallquist
- Requiem for the Millennium, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary – 2001
Meet Bennie C. Caston Jr.
Experience is crucial when establishing credentials in teaching, and experience is one reason students enjoy learning from Bennie C. Caston Jr., professor of voice at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, according to Luke Hannah, a Doctor of Musical Arts student from Richland, Mississippi. Utilizing his 29 years of experience in music ministry and performing, Caston imparts wisdom and knowledge to the students at Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College.