Julien Benichou

Julien Benichou (born 3 November 1969) is a French and American musician, composer, and conductor.

He is principal conductor of the Accord Symphony Orchestra, artistic and general director of the Washington Opera Society, and music director of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In 2024 he was named a knight (chevalier) of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic.

Biography and career Benichou was born in Anduze, France, on 3 November 1969. He is the son of the French actor and comedian Maurice Bénichou (1943-2019) and the French actress and playwright Anne Clément (1940-2023).

He began his musical training at the Marseille Conservatory with teachers such as Roland Hayrabedian and Pol Mule. He then continued his studies at the Rueil-Malmaison Conservatory with Jean-Sébastien Béreau. He furthered his training in harmony and counterpoint at the Schola Cantorum de Paris with Pierre Doury.

In 2004, he was appointed principal conductor of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, which he led for over seventeen years until 2021. Under his direction, he has promoted the premieres of operas such as Aida, Faust, and Carmen in Washington, D.C..

In 2023, Benichou was appointed principal conductor of the Accord Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C., taking over from Spanish conductor Juan Gallastegui, who led the orchestra for more than three years.

In 2024 Benichou was named a knight (chevalier) of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic by Laurent Bili, the French ambassador to the United States.

He has lived in the United States since 1994.

Personal life He currently resides in Baltimore (United States) and the French region of Cévennes (France). In 2016 he became a naturalized US citizen, and currently holds both French and American citizenship.

Awards and honours

2024, Knight (chevalier) of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic.