About Simon Charette

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Simon Charette is a sought-after conductor, collaborative pianist, and vocal coach based in Washington, DC. He has worked with internationally acclaimed artists from the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera.

Simon is the founder and artistic director of the Opéra Comique de Washington, an opera company specializing in French operetta. In 2022, he was named Artistic Director of the French Choir of Washington. Simon is also the Artistic Director of the Choir of the Embassy of France in Washington.

 

He conducted this ensemble for French President Emmanuel Macron’s addresses in Washington, DC, in 2018 and 2022. Simon works as assistant conductor and pianist for the Washington Opera Society. Recent productions include Mozart’s Magic Flute (Embassy of Austria); Gounod’s Faust (Embassy of France); Verdi’s Aida (Embassy of Egypt); Bizet’s Carmen (Embassy of France) and Kalman’s The Gypsy Princess (Embassy of Uzbekistan). 

 

He also served as assistant conductor of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra in Annapolis, MD, and chorus master & assistant conductor for the Southern Maryland Youth Orchestra and Chorus in Leonardtown, MD. Recently, he has worked with the National Music Festival Orchestra, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.

 

After receiving a Master’s degree from the Université de Montréal, he furthered his training at the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy (London, Ontario), at the American Institute for Musical Studies (Graz, Austria), and at the Accademia Europea dell’Opera (Lucca, Italy). Simon is the Music Director of the North Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bethesda, MD.