David Benedict

Originally from South Carolina, mandolinist David Benedict is a Boston-based performer, composer, and instructor seeking to blend tradition and innovation through his music. Alumnus of Missy Raines & The New Hip and producer of the popular weekly Mandolin Mondays video series, David is now a part of the adventurous young New England bluegrass band Mile Twelve.

In 2013, he graduated with a unique degree in mandolin music performance from Bryan College in Tennessee, where he studied with Grammy-nominated mandolinist Matt Flinner. Since then, David has played at venues and festivals across the southeast including the Savannah Music Festival and TEDx Conferences–sharing the stage with such musicians as Casey Driessen, Matt Flinner, Julian Lage, Mike Marshall, Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, Tommy Emmanuel, and others.

Over the years, David’s broad tastes have led him to push the conventional boundaries of the mandolin by exploring a variety of musical styles including bluegrass, old time, celtic, jazz, classical, and more. He has also been observed to have a unique and authentic artistic voice as a composer. This distinct creative style is displayed in his two albums of original acoustic instrumental music: the first, Into the True Country (2014), which features a crew of outstanding studio musicians and was produced by Flinner, and the second, an intrepid duo album with Chattanooga finger-style guitarist Michael Moore, called Each by Side (2015).

See what others have to say about David:


"David is one of the most inspiring lights on the creative acoustic music scene today. A talented player and composer who is paving the way for new and exciting music! I can't wait to see where he takes us!"

~ Julian Lage

"David Benedict is extremely talented, not just in the literal skills of playing the mandolin, but in putting together compositions that have the ability to conjure nostalgia while also feeling fresh and exciting. Benedict is quite literally keeping a tradition alive."

~ Ear to the Ground Music

"David is part of a new generation of American mandolinists who are helping to reinvent our instrument. Super clean and accurate playing combined with a broad sense of composition and a sensitivity of style that is soulful yet clear and beautiful. While his roots are clearly bluegrass and celtic fiddle based, his tastes expand deep into jazz and classical as well. The future of our instrument is going to be in fine shape with young people like David Benedict taking the reins."

~ Mike Marshall