Benjamin Cross (September 15, 1786 – March 1, 1857), was a conductor, singer, organist, and one of the first American composers. Cross was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

. His teachers included

Benjamin Carr Benjamin Carr (September 12, 1768 – May 24, 1831) was an American composer, singer, teacher, and music publisher.Stephen Siek, "Benjamin Carr", Grove Music Online Biography Born in London, he was the son of Joseph Carr (music publisher), Jose ...

and

Raynor Taylor Raynor Taylor (1747 – 17 August 1825) was an English organist, music teacher, composer, and singer who lived and worked in the United States after emigrating in 1792. Active in composing music for the theater, outdoor pleasure garden, and the Ang ...

. Benjamin Cross was one of the founding members of

The Musical Fund Society The Musical Fund Society is one of the oldest musical societies in the United States founded in February 1820 by Benjamin Carr, Raynor Taylor, George Schetky and Benjamin Cross, and the painter Thomas Sully. Its first public concert on April 22, 182 ...

PhonoArchive as well as being one of its first directors. Benjamin Cross was father to Michael H. Cross (1833-1897) who became a notable conductor in

List of works

*''Strike the Harp in Praise of God'' - treble solo & chorus *''A Mother's Love'' - arranged for the piano forte

References

1786 births 1857 deaths American male composers American composers 19th-century American male musicians {{US-composer-stub