Staff

With natural musicality, infectious energy, and creative approach in fostering the next generation of musicians, conductor Julien Benichou is making his mark as a champion for the future of classical music. Benichou is the Artistic Director of the Washington Opera Society (WOS), and Music Director of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO). In 2022 he co-founded and became Artistic Director of the National Chamber Orchestra. In 2023 he became Music Director  of the Accord Symphony in Washington and was appointed Permanent Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre de Chambre de Marseille in 2024. In 2024 he became Director of Orchestras for the Washington Conservatory as well as co-founded the Cévennes Lyriques festival and became its artistic director.

As a guest conductor, Benichou has garnered high acclaim through his work with the New York City Ballet, Baltimore Concert Opera, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s collaborations with Mobtown Modern Synchronicity. Abroad, he has conducted the Orquestra Sinfonica do Parana in Brazil, St. Petersburg State Symphony and Siberian State Symphony in Russia, and the Free State Symphony in South Africa. Recent engagements have included a return engagement for Christmas with Tim Janis at Carnegie Hall, conducting the Portuguese Philharmonic  both in Portugal and at the Champs-Elysees Theater in Paris, guest conducting the Dallas Symphony, the Pasdeloup Orchestra in Paris, the Marseille Chamber Orchestra, several performances of the Environmental Symphony with the New York City Opera Orchestra at the UN General Assembly and guest conducting at the Stellenbosch Music Festival in South Africa. This season’s engagements have included a Kennedy Center debut with the Accord Symphony, a return to the Free State Symphony in South Africa and performances with the Lausanne Sinfonietta and Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie. Upcoming engagements include a return engagement with the New York City Ballet  and a Walla-Walla Symphony debut.

EXecutive director

Kristin Sampson

Praised by the New York Times for her "bright, sizable and expressive voice," Mexican-born American soprano Kristin Sampson has enjoyed a distinguished international career. Recent and upcoming performances include returns to her signature Puccini heroines, the title roles in Tosca and Madama Butterfly, Minnie in La fanciulla del West, her Romanian debut with Opera Nationala Romana Cluj-Napoca as Cio-Cio-San, and concert performances with Taormina OPERA Festival, ArtPark, and New York City Opera. Recent engagements included performances with The Accord Symphony Orchestra, Washington Opera Society, Connecticut Lyric Opera and The Chapala Opera Guild. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony as the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. She has performed domestically with the New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Orchestra of New York, Opera Carolina, Dicapo Opera Theatre, Augusta Opera, El Paso Opera, and the National Lyric Opera among many others. Ms. Sampson has performed internationally with Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago, Teatro del Giglio in Lucca, Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, the Magyar Tavak Fesztiválja in Hungary, Opera Society of Hong Kong, Armel Opera Festival, National Theatre of Szeged, Teatro Municipal de Santiago, and Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. 

Founder / Executive Director Emeritus

Director of Development

Michael J. Reilly

Founder and Founder and director emeritus of WOS, Michael J. Reilly brings 30 years of arts management experience to this gem of a boutique opera company, having also founded and directed the critically-acclaimed Opera Camerata Washington. Mr. Reilly earned his degree in technology and arts management from American University. His diverse career includes work as a licensed stock broker with Quantum Financial Advisors, technology roles in the Federal Government, business manager for Americas magazine at the Organization of American States, and fundraising at Washington National Opera. Mr. Reilly divides his time between Washington and his home in Acapulco, Mexico. His interests include choral singing, spending time with his four grandchildren, gardening, gourmet cooking, piano, and opera. He maintains a strong commitment to immigration and poverty issues affecting the developing world and is semi-fluent in Spanish.

IN MEMORIAM

Associate Artistic Director: Scott Beard PhD.

In honor of Dr. Beard, whose invaluable contributions benefited the Washington Opera Society from its inception until his untimely passing, we maintain his biography on this page so that all may see a brief summary of what he accomplished during his lifetime. R.I.P. Scott Beard brought over twenty years of experience in higher education to his roles in music and administration. As Provost of Shepherd University, he oversaw the music department, graduate programs, and all facets of accreditation. Named 2006 West Virginia Music Teacher of the Year and runner-up for West Virginia Professor of the Year in 2009, Dr. Beard's students won prizes in competitions worldwide and continued their studies at prestigious conservatories. His performance career as a soloist and chamber musician spanned the United States and seven countries, with appearances at Weill Recital Hall, the Tenri Cultural Institute, and numerous embassies. His concerts were celebrated for their poetry, passion, and innovative programming. A dedicated member of Music Teachers National Association, Dr. Beard published extensively, including four volumes of keyboard anthologies with Alfred Publishing.