Ben Gitterman

Ben Gitterman has proudly been a member of the Washington Chorus for 28 years and has a lifelong passion for choral singing. As a child, his father often took him to performances at the standing room section at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, resulting in late nights and sleepy school days. Even though he disliked the operas, he loved the choral music.

Prior to his time in Washington, Ben lived in Colorado for 15 years, where he joined the inaugural chorus of Opera Colorado, singing in 25 productions, and the Colorado Symphony Chorus. When he moved back east, he was happy and fortunate to be accepted into The Washington Chorus (then known as the Oratorio Society of Washington), as TWC has now become a major part of his life.

In his professional life, Ben is a pediatrician practicing in Silver Spring, Maryland and is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University and Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington D.C. His major activities include Child Health Advocacy, Children's Environmental Health and Community Health focused education and program development. In D.C. he has been Chair of General and Community Pediatrics at CNMC. In addition, he is past president of the Washington D.C, Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and past chair of the Executive Committee of the AAP Council on Community Pediatrics.  He has been on the board of several international Health organizations and volunteers around the world with Operation Smile almost annually. But the most wonderful and interesting job he ever had was being a New York City Yellow Cab taxi driver for 3 years.

Outside of work and choir, theater has been a passion since being introduced by his grandmother in Brooklyn NY where he grew up.  He has traveled very extensively to very off the beaten path places, often via unique and uncommon means. He loves the mountains as much as the city, hiking in the Rockies and other places around the world. He is also an avid cyclist.

The most important things in life? Friends, family, people, and Telly - a golden retriever / labradoodle mix.