Ep. 4 — Ben Blessing: Music, Teaching, and Ultra-marathons

In this episode of The Brenton Peck Podcast, I sit down with Ben Blessing — composer, educator, ultra-endurance runner, former Marine Corps musician, and current service member in the Idaho Army National Guard’s 25th Army Band.

With musical roots in Meridian, Idaho, Ben shares the path that led him from junior-high composition experiments to earning degrees in Music Composition and Music Education, and eventually directing the band in Baker City, Oregon.

We explore his time in the Marine Corps Band, how writing for concert band, orchestra, and electronic media shaped his creative voice, and how pieces like Symphony No. 4, Grandma’s Coat, and Standhope Peak earned national recognition.

Ben also opens up about the mindset and discipline behind ultra-marathons — from 135-mile races in the Marines to directing the Standhope Ultra Challenge today. This is a conversation about creative grit, service, endurance, and the harmony between art and discipline.

Guest Bio

Ben Blessing is a composer, educator, Marine Corps veteran, and endurance athlete.

He writes for concert band, orchestra, choir, and electronic media, with works performed nationally and receiving competition recognitions.

Ben serves as a music educator and the director of the Baker High School band, performs with the Idaho Army National Guard’s 25th Army Band, and was the former director of the Standhope Ultra Challenge — one of Idaho’s premier mountain ultramarathons.

His work blends creativity, service, discipline, and community impact across music and endurance sport.