Benjamin Makino '00

Pianist and conductor Benjamin Makino recently concluded a two-year appointment as a conductor and vocal coach in the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera. As part of his duties in Washington, Mr. Makino coached resident artists in a range of repertoire, prepared singers for productions in the company’s American Opera series, and conducted a number of performances for the company, including Hansel and Gretel and Così fan tutte. Other appearances with the Washington National Opera included concerts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Opera House, the Music Center at Strathmore, and Young Artist performances at the Renwick Gallery, the Austrian Embassy and the Mexican Cultural Institute. In 2007 Mr. Makino was the only United States citizen selected to participate in the 50th Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors.