Officers

President: Anne L. Lantry

Anne Lantry is honored to be a part of Washington Opera Society. She feels that music enriches lives, transcends differences and stimulates curiosity. She is a firm believer that exposing young people, in particular, to music affords a generational change that is exciting to be a part of.

Vice President: Robin K. Phillips

Acclaimed auteur filmmaker Robin Phillips' background as actor, musician, journalist, producer and playwright helped her create a ground-breaking documentary film, "Shakespeare: The Truth Behind the Name." IMDb.com lists 105 wins (23 Best Documentary) and 24 nominations from 88 international film festivals -- BEST in Experimental, Educational, Biographical, Historical, Director, Research, Editing, Sound Design, Production Design and Costume. Phillips spent 12 years living, studying and performing abroad in Munich, Sydney, London, Brussels, and Monte Carlo. Back home she has written, produced and starred in criticallyacclaimed original musical stage plays, including "The Music Halls of Paris, 1900-1960," and "Agatha Sings!"—a fascinating exploration of mystery writer Agatha Christie's little-known desire to become an opera singer. For 7 years, until 2020, she developed a devoted following as Opera Camerata Washington's narrator.

Treasurer: Karen Cinibulk

Upcoming bio.

Secretary: Anne L. Lantry

Directors

Peter S. Adam

Financier and entrepreneur, Peter Adam spent his formative years in Tunis and Egypt before moving to Connecticut as an adolescent. Educated in US schools, he attended The New School for Social Research, UC Berkeley, Defense Language Institute, and Columbia University. While serving as an Arabic Linguist in the US Army, he was assigned to NSA Headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland. Peter comes from a musical family with his mother being an accomplished amateur pianist. He studied piano for many years and played saxophone in jazz bands as a teenager. His musical appreciation developed early when accompanying his mother to Metropolitan Opera performances in NYC while his father was away on business. He maintains an affinity for diverse musical genres including opera, classical, jazz, pop, and blues.

Yasmine Askalani

Yasmine Askalani is a passionate advocate for education, the arts, and individuals with disabilities, influenced by her upbringing across multiple countries. As founder of "Beautiful Minds Club," she provides tailored support programs for children on the autism spectrum, celebrating their unique talents. She also established "Saving Innocents," an anti-trafficking organization raising awareness and alleviating suffering. Her advocacy extends to serving on "the Catholic Coalition for Special Education" promoting inclusion in Catholic schools. Yasmine contributes to community initiatives including St. Jude "Hearts of Fashion" and "Keen," where she helps raise funds and facilitates athletics for children with special needs. Before dedicating herself to nonprofit work, she had a successful career as an interior designer, working on notable projects and creating welcoming spaces for her nonprofit initiatives.

Zidi Berger, M.D.

Founder and Medical Director of the Women's Wellness Institute, Dr. Zidi Berger is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional in Health and Wellness. Initially Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, she pioneered integrative approaches combining mainstream medical solutions with natural remedies. A certified Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Berger specializes in anti-aging medicine, gynecology, and clinical nutrition. Her practice is a leading center for endocrinology, bioidentical hormone replacement, and cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Berger earned her Medical Degree from Argentina's National University of Cuyo and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Her residency at Washington Hospital Center included affiliations with Johns Hopkins and Walter Reed Hospital.She stays current through regular participation in medical conferences nationwide.

Traudel Lange

Born and raised in Germany, Traudel Lange studied Finance and Economics at the Academy of Bankers in Munich and Art History at Ludwig Maximilian University. After working as an Investment Consultant at a major bank in the Rosenheim/Munich area, she declined a branch manager position to relocate with her family to Ecuador. There, she worked for Foster Parents Plan as an English to Spanish translator while raising two children. She later spent two years in Malawi, Africa, continuing her humanitarian contributions before settling in the United States. For over 30 years, Ms. Lange has assisted clients in real estate transactions throughout the Greater Washington DC Area. Outside of her professional life, Traudel's passions include ballet, opera, dance (especially tango), socializing with friends, outdoor activities, and supporting causes like Hope Connections, All Stars Project, and St. Jude's Children's Research Center.

Rafael A. Prieto

A founding member of the Washington Opera Society, Mr. Prieto sang as baritone in religious bands and choirs both in Puerto Rico (where he was born) and in Washington DC, where he settled in 1991. Rafael also sang with the accompanying chorus of Opera Camerata of Washington, a small opera company in the DC area. Participating in the chorus of Handel’s Messiah is a treasured moment of his. Mr. Prieto has been involved in opera organizations for more than 20 years. Mr. Prieto served as the secretary to the Washington Opera Society’s board of directors since its inception in 2015 until December 2023.

John Wall, CPA

Mr. Wall founded John Wall, CPA in 2009, providing accounting and tax services to many businesses and individuals, with particular expertise in the entertainment industry. His entertainment services include entity formation, managing investments in Broadway, television, and Internet productions, accounting for recoupment and profit payments to investors, tax preparation, and compliance-related tasks. This growing specialty has led him to split his time between Northern Virginia and Los Angeles. Prior to establishing his own firm, John served as Partner at Martin & Wall, PC in Washington, DC for 12 years, where he managed tax preparation services for individuals and businesses and performed financial audits for businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies. John received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Western New England College and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1991, licensed in Virginia and Maryland.

Advisory Council

Barbara Bennett

Barbara Bennett, founding President of the Washington Opera Society and Board member for nearly a decade, now serves on its Advisory Council. With an MBA in Finance, Ms. Bennett built an impressive career in banking, holding senior positions with expertise in lending and restructuring throughout Latin America. True to her high school yearbook prediction that "Art, dancing and opera are her true passions," Barbara's artistic journey began early—dancing at Carnegie Hall and experiencing her first opera, Wagner's "Das Rheingold," at Lincoln Center on her sixteenth birthday. This lifelong dedication to the arts culminates in her current role as proprietor of Q Street Fine Art Gallery, which she elegantly operates from her Washington DC Carriage House home, creating a unique space where her financial acumen and artistic passions converge to support the cultural landscape of the nation's capital.

Peter Crawford

Peter M. Crawford is a lifelong resident of the Washington, D.C. area, with more than four generations of Washington, D.C. roots. He was raised in Bethesda and Annandale and has since resided in the Kalorama, Dupont, and Georgetown neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.

After a successful 35 year international energy and public policy consulting career at Lewin and Associates, ICF, and INTEK Inc, Peter changed gears and embarked on a career in residential real estate with Long and Foster in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Active in his community, he has served as Board President of The Oakland Condominium for over 15 years, and is a member of the Kalorama Citizens Association, the Dupont Circle Citizens Association, and the Georgetown University Club of Washington. He serves of the advisory councils of The Hillwood Estate and Gardens and the Washington Opera Society. He previously served on the boards of the Fund for Kalorama Park and the Washington Shakespeare Company. He is also a proud supporter of the Friends of Mitchell Park, the Phillips Collection, Food and Friends, and other local organizations and charities. Other interests include photography, travel, and the arts.

Jan Du Plain

Jan Du Plain's journey began near Hollywood, where she cultivated her love for the arts through local performances and later with a repertory company in Northern California. Her distinguished career spans decades in the entertainment industry, representing luminaries through prominent organizations including Ziegler-Ross Literary Agency in Los Angeles, CBS Films in New York, Ford's Theatre in Washington DC, and WETA, America's thirdlargest producer of public television and radio programming. For the past fifteen years, Jan has dedicated herself to promoting cultural diplomacy within Washington DC's influential diplomatic community. While her passion encompasses all artistic expressions, opera holds a special place in her heart. Jan serves on the advisory board of the Washington Opera Society and the Board of Directors for Theatre Washington, representing 90 theaters and the Helen Hayes Awards. In her leisure time, she enjoys relaxing in her Virginia hot tub with her dog "Prince Oscar," aptly named after the Academy Awards—a testament to her lifelong dedication to the arts.

Benedict J. Hastings

Benedict J. Hastings is a manager and principal of Hastings and Associates, a full-service appraisal firm specializing in fine art, antiques, decorative arts, and estates. With expertise since 1976 and based in Washington DC since 1980, he provides appraisals for insurance, tax deduction, donations, and estate evaluations. His professional background includes leading the Russian and Silver Departments at Phillips Auction House (1986-1989) and working in Sloans Auction House's decorative arts department (1990-1993) before establishing his own f irm.Mr. Hastings has served as an appraiser for television shows including Metropolitan Magazine (1993-1996) and Fox 5's Trash and Treasure. His distinguished clients include The White House, The National Portrait Gallery, and various museums. He has lectured at the Smithsonian Institute, Hillwood Museum, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and was commissioned to sell the contents of the renowned Jockey Club and Fairfax Bar in 2001.

Anne L. Howard-Tristani

Anne L. Howard-Tristani is President of Howard-Tristani International Consulting, specializing in Government Relations, International Public Affairs, Higher Education, and Diplomatic and Cultural Affairs. Her career includes executive positions at the University of Puerto Rico and Universidad del Este, alongside service in the Carter Administration as Special Assistant to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce. Mrs. Howard-Tristani was promoted to the U.S. Senior Executive Service under President Carter and received the Department of Commerce Certificate for Outstanding Congressional Liaison Work. She serves on the National Advisory Board of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art, the Board of Directors of The Embassy Series, and Advisory Councils for UNA/NCA and Washington Opera Society. Currently working on "Sibling Citizens," an oral history about her uncle Hubert H. Humphrey and mother Frances Humphrey Howard, she holds an M.A. from Georgetown University and a B.S. from Boston University. She is married to Dennis Chavez Tristani with three adult children.

Doria E. Kaplan, PhD

Doria Kaplan is a founding member and Board Director of the Washington Opera Society, whose passion for opera began during her university years listening to Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts. Her distinguished career includes a Fulbright Grant to study French literature at the Université of Montpellier, service at the U.S. House of Representatives, and roles with the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations, where she coordinated international conferences and supervised the Video Presentation Center for the U.N. Habitat Conference in Vancouver. Dr. Kaplan holds a PhD in French from U.C. Santa Barbara and has taught at New England College in England and the University of B.C. in Canada. She has served on the boards of Le Neon French theatre, the Beethoven Society, and The Cosmopolitans. Later transitioning to Information Technology as a Senior Technical Writer for U.S. Government departments, she continues her lifelong engagement with opera, attending performances at prestigious venues worldwide.

Cary Pollak, Esq.

Cary Pollak served as WOS Vice President of the Board of Directors until May 15, 2024, having previously held the position of President (2016-2018). As a retired Senior Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, he was nominated for the DC Bar's prestigious Rosenberg Award for exemplary service as government council. Mr. Pollak currently serves on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, teaching litigation skills to lawyers nationwide, and has taught at the National Advocacy Center, U.S. Department of Justice Legal Education Institute, and Practicing Law Institute. He is also a member of the William Bryant Inn of Court at the D.C. federal courthouse. Beyond his legal career, Mr. Pollak is an accomplished food and travel writer and cooking instructor who has been featured in media across the country. His writing has appeared in Capitol File and DC Style magazines and The Wire, the National Press Club's online publication. He serves on the Press Club's House Committee and has twice received its Vivian Award for outstanding service.

Alexandra N. Sényi de Nagy-Unyom, Esq.

Alexandra N. Sényi served as President of the WOS Board of Directors from 2020 until May 15, 2024. Currently an attorney in private practice at Elliot & Chatain, she specializes in family law and immigration matters. A native of Vienna, Austria, Ms. Sényi has extensive international experience, having clerked for the Department of Trade and Commerce in the Czech Republic and served as an Austrian diplomatic representative in Japan. Her impressive academic credentials include a B.A. from the University of Paris II PanthéonAssas, a Socrates-Erasmus scholarship at Charles University in Prague, a J.D. from Paris II Panthéon-Assas, an M.A. from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and an L.L.M. from Georgetown Law. Committed to community service, Ms. Sényi is actively involved with the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center as an Executive member and Benefit Committee Co-Chair. She also serves on the Executive Board of FAIR Girls, combating human trafficking in the DMV area. In her leisure time, she enjoys water sports, reading biographies, and traveling. A passionate classical music and opera enthusiast, she is a longtime supporter of the Kennedy Center and the Salzburg Opera Festival.

LTC James Smith USAF Ret.

James F. Smith is the owner and operator of Jim Smith Marina on the Chesapeake Bay. With degrees from universities on both U.S. coasts, Mr. Smith built his career in the United States Air Force and the Defense Energy Center of the U.S. Department of Defense. His professional expertise focused on developing concepts, plans, and strategies to protect U.S. military resources and facilities from attack. Earlier in life, he considered pursuing botany and worked as a high school science teacher, even taking on the challenging role of driving a school bus on icy Rocky Mountain roads in Colorado. In retirement, Mr. Smith divides his time between managing his marina and pursuing his passions for music—especially opera—as well as visiting museums, appreciating art, and collecting antique treasures. His diverse background in military service, education, and business demonstrates his adaptability and wide-ranging interests.

Legal Counsel

Stefan M. Lopatkiewicz Esq.

Stefan M. Lopatkiewicz is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., specializing in commercial and regulatory telecommunications law. He formerly served as General Counsel of Eutelsat America Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of Paris-based Eutelsat SA, which operates a global fleet of communications satellites. A graduate of the University of Virginia Woodrow Wilson School of Government and Foreign Affairs and Harvard Law School, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard International Law Journal. Mr. Lopatkiewicz has long contributed as a pro bono advocate for the arts community in the nation's capital, working with both the Washington Opera Society and GALA Hispanic Theatre. He previously served as 1st Vice President and General Counsel of the American Council for Polish Culture and as President of the Polish-American Arts Association of Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of the Officer's Service Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.