CYSO Team
Music Director
Julien Benichou
Music Director and Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra
"Julien Benichou is one of the most interesting and accomplished conductors of his generation. He is an uplifting presence on the podium, and his interpretations are flexible, elegant and spontaneous. He is also very clear and his musicianship and approach have led to memorable collaborations that I have tremendously enjoyed, as concertmaster and soloist alike."
Kurt Nikkanen, Concertmaster, New York City Ballet Orchestra.
Hailed as “one of the most interesting and accomplished conductors of his generation,” Julien Benichou is noted for his blend of flexibility and control, inspiring musicality and incredibly infectious energy. Benichou currently serves as Music Director for the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO), and was recently appointed Principal Conductor of the Washington Opera Society. He is also the Music Director of the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) and the Southern Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra (SMYOC). In December of 2017 he made his debut with the New York City Ballet (NYCB), in three performances of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, and returned to Carnegie Hall, in a concert that featured Robert Redford and Vice-President Al Gore.
Executive Director
Dane Krich
From a very young age, Dane Krich wanted to be a musician. The passion and dedication needed to be successful were his driving forces to work hard and excel at his craft. As he progressed deeper into the music profession in Baltimore, Washington DC, and many of the surrounding areas he had also taken an interest in the arts administration side of performance. He truly is a patient and flexible person who listens to those with whom he collaborates.
For the past four years he has worked as the personnel manager for the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has been the personnel contractor for the World Bank Chorus and Orchestra in Washington DC, the Opera Orchestra at Morgan State University, The Washington Opera Society and also Tim Janis’ American Christmas Carol Performance at Carnegie Hall.
In 2016, Dane stepped in to the position of General Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. In this position he is solely responsible for coordinating, supervising, and organizing all personnel and financial duties and works as a liaison for the Board of Directors. This position has provided him with the experience of overseeing an orchestra and meeting all the unique needs that it takes to manage and make the operations run successfully.
His practical work experience enables him to impart real-world expertise to every job he is a part of. In addition, his strong work ethic, knowledge, and passion for arts administration enables him to be effective and enthusiastic as the interim Executive Director of the CYSO!
Conductors of the CYSO
Carlos Castrillon
Conductor of the Concert Orchestra
Carlos Castrillon is the Director of Bands and Associate Director of Orchestras at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. His ensembles consistently receive superior ratings at both local and national festivals. Prior to teaching at DeMatha, Mr. Castrillon taught in the Prince George’s County Public School System and was a Co-Director of the county’s youth orchestra program. Additionally, Mr. Castrillon is the private school representative for the Maryland Band Directors Association and the Past President of the Washington Archdiocesan Music Teachers Council. Outside of school, Mr. Castrillon is an active adjudicator and guest conductor throughout the state of Maryland.
Robert Stojakovich
Conductor of the String Orchestra
Robert Stojakovich has been a music teacher in Anne Arundel County for the past 30 years. He has taught at Southern Senior, Southern Middle, South River Senior, Edgewater Elementary, Bates Middle, Chesapeake Senior and Magothy River Middle School where he is currently the instrumental music director.
Under his direction the Bands and Orchestras have continued a pursuit of excellence in competition and festivals at the county, state and national levels. At the age of 20 Mr. Stojakovich received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has done graduate work at the University of Maryland and West Chester University.
Dana Shieh
Conductor of the Preparatory Orchestra
Mrs. Dana Shieh is the Director of Fine Arts at Bishop McNamara High School and has over 30 years of teaching and performing experience. She previously served as orchestra director at Thomas G. Pullen Arts Academy and has performed professionally at the Kennedy Center, and the Music Center at Strathmore. Mrs. Shieh earned her Bachelor’s degree in viola performance from Columbus State University and her Master’s in Music Education from Florida State University. She has performed with the National Philharmonic, Annapolis Symphony, and Maryland Symphony, and continues to serve as an adjudicator and guest conductor for regional festivals and honor orchestras.
Gail Vehslage
Conductor of the Junior and Senior Flute Ensembles
Gail Vehslage is beginning her 19th season with CYSO. In addition to conducting the Junior and Senior flute ensembles, she founded and conducts a large adult flute ensemble that has won national recognition. Her varied musical career has included being an orchestral performer, chamber musician, private flute instructor, music camp director and High School Band and Orchestra conductor. Her students have won numerous scholarships to prestigious conservatories and schools of music.
David Kauffman
Conductor of the Jazz Orchestra
David Kauffman is Senior Manager of the Apex Arts Magnet program in Maryland, Supervisor of Teacher Interns (Music) at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and is the CYSO Jazz Combo Director in Annapolis. For over thirty years, he has served in various roles as an educator, clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, performer, promoter, businessman, and elected official. Performance credits as a saxophonist include Aretha Franklin, Louie Bellson, and The Dells; and he currently plays saxophones in Tidewater Adams.
He is currently on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Jazz Education Network (JEN), and was Chair of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Council for Jazz Education from 2018-2022. He was the founder of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra, a collegiate honors band whose performance credits include Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the JEN National Conference in New Orleans. He produced and presented a weekly jazz radio program, “Searching for Birdland” on NPR Affiliate WFWM.
He lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife, Jennifer and their dog Stella. They have two adult children, Kaitlyn and Sam.