Simon Charette is a sought-after conductor, collaborative pianist and vocal coach based in Washington, D.C. Passionate about opera from an early age, Charette is the founder and artistic director of the Opéra Comique de Washington, an opera company specializing in French operetta. Recently, he made his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall and worked with the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (Montréal), the National Music Festival Orchestra, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and l'Orchestre de la Francophonie (Montréal). Charette worked as assistant conductor and pianist for the Washington Opera Society. He also served as assistant conductor of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra in Annapolis, Marylanad, as well as the Southern Maryland Youth Orchestra and Chorus. In 2022, he was named artistic director of the newly founded French Choir of Washington. Charette is also the artistic director of the Choir of the French Embassy in Washington. He conducted this ensemble for French President Emmanuel Macron's address in Washington, D.C., in 2018 and 2022. 

After receiving a master’s degree from the Université de Montréal, he furthered his training at the Dirigierakademie (Toronto, Canada), at the National Music Festival (Chestertown, Maryland), and the Académie Musicale de Villecroze (France). Charette is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma in orchestral conducting at Shenandoah Conservatory under the guidance of Emanuele Andrizzi.

Visit www.simoncharette.com and www.operacomiquedewashington.org to learn more.