He received his Bachelor of Music degree with a minor in Psychology from Florida State University, where he studied with Michelle Stebleton and William Capps. He earned a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Alabama, where he studied with Charles Snead. He has had additional coaching from Michael Thompson, Richard Watkins, and David Ohanian.
Before coming to Western, Dr. Bennett was on the faculty of Mercer University in Macon, GA, and conducted the Worship Orchestra at First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, AL.
As a soloist, he was awarded First Prize in the 1999 National Federation of Music Clubs Solo Auditions (Brass Division), as well as the University of Alabama Concerto and Aria Competition in 2000, and was a finalist in the University Division of the 2001 American Horn Competition. As a member of the UA Horn Quartet, he was a semi-finalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2002.
Also an active orchestral musician, he has performed with ensembles throughout the southeast, including the Asheville (NC), Macon (GA), Columbus (GA), Tuscaloosa (AL), Huntsville (AL), Tallahassee (FL), and Albany (GA) Symphony Orchestras. He is an active member of the International Horn Society and his writing has been published in their journal, The Horn Call.