President & CEO

THE ORGANIZATION: 

Known as “the finest-by-far major chorus in America” (Los Angeles Times), the Grammy Award winning Los Angeles Master Chorale (the “Chorale”) is a vibrant cultural treasure hailed for its powerful performances, technical precision and artistic daring. Led by Grant Gershon, Kiki & David Gindler Artistic Director, and Jenny Wong, Associate Artistic Director, the Chorale recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and one of the most successful years in its history.  

As the choir-in-residence at the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, the Chorale reaches over 175,000 people a year through its concert series, the international touring of innovative works, and performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at both Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.  

As the nation’s most celebrated professional chorus, the Chorale has won the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance twice in the last five years; most recently in 2026. The Chorale has expanded its reach through its extensive discography and appearances on national television, including appearances on the Academy Awards in 2025 and 2026, illustrating the Chorale’s facility and peerless nature. The Chorale is also proud that two of its commissioned works (by composers Billy Childs and Steve Reich) have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Music. 

Committed to increasing representation in the choral repertoire, the Chorale announced in 2020 that it will reserve at least 50 percent of each future season for works by composers from historically excluded groups. This commitment to inclusion runs through the entire organization, which recently ratified a five-year plan that commits to improving representation at the staff and Board levels, continuing to build a more diverse roster of singers, and reaching a wider audience.  

The Chorale recently launched Youth Chorus LA, an inclusive program that provides a nurturing environment for young voices from all backgrounds. The Chorale’s community engagement and education programs also include the Oratorio Project in which high school students collaborate to write large, complex works. The Chorale also presents an annual High School Choir Festival, which brings teenagers from around the Southland to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall. To learn more, visit www.lamasterchorale.org.  

Mission 

When voices rise together — strangers become community. Hearts open, differences soften, beauty takes you beyond yourself. 

In our city and beyond, the Los Angeles Master Chorale – America’s most celebrated professional chorus - brings people together through the power of collective song. Each year, we welcome tens of thousands of engaged listeners, mentor emerging singers, commission new works, and deepen the dialogue between our world and the human voice. 

Vision 

We envision a world in which choral music is a bridge for belonging, and where participation in the arts brings about a collective voice where we understand and explore our commonalities and differences. 
 
The Los Angeles Master Chorale strives to be a leader in engaging the diverse individuals and communities that make up Los Angeles, our home. The Chorale is committed to using the transformative power of choral music to engage and to inspire the people of Los Angeles and around the world. 

THE OPPORTUNITY:  

The President & CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors through the Chair of the Board and Executive Committee, and is responsible for advancing the mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability of the Chorale. The President & CEO will provide strategic, financial, and operational leadership for the nation’s premier professional choral music organizations and will work in close partnership with the Artistic Director, Board, and staff to support artistic excellence, organizational effectiveness, and community impact. The organization operates with an annual budget of approximately $7.5 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year and a staff of 20. Direct reports include the Vice President of Artistic Operations, Vice President of External Affairs, Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, and Vice President of Advancement. Serving as the organization’s chief executive and principal external representative, the President & CEO will lead fundraising, institutional partnerships, audience and community engagement, strategic planning, and organizational management while ensuring strong financial stewardship and operational excellence.  

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Strategic Leadership & Governance 

• Provide strategic leadership that advances the Chorale’s artistic mission, organizational priorities, and long-term sustainability.  

• Partner closely with the Artistic Director and the Board to align artistic ambition with institutional and financial goals.  

• Lead strategic planning efforts and support the Board in establishing clear organizational priorities and measures of success.  

• Foster strong governance practices, transparency, and meaningful Board engagement.  

• Ensure the organization operates with the highest standards of ethics, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.  

Financial Stewardship?? 

• Oversee the financial health of the organization through sound fiscal management, responsible budgeting, and long-range planning.  

• Collaborate with staff, the Executive Committee, and the Board to develop and manage the annual operating budget. 

• Monitor financial performance and ensure effective systems, controls, and reporting practices are in place.  

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Fundraising & External Relations? 

• Serve as a visible and compelling ambassador for the Chorale throughout Los Angeles and the broader national arts community.  

• Lead fundraising efforts in partnership with the Board and Vice President of Advancement to achieve annual and long-term contributed and earned revenue goals. 

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with donors, foundations, corporate partners, civic leaders, and community stakeholders.  

• Foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization and actively support donor engagement and stewardship efforts.  

• Identify opportunities for institutional growth, strategic partnerships, sponsorship, touring, and expanded community visibility.  

• Support integrated marketing and audience engagement strategies that strengthen the Chorale’s profile and deepen community connection.  

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Communication? 

• Ensure transparent and timely communication with staff and constituents.  

• Represent the organization at conferences and other events.  

• Serve as the voice and face of the organization to the media and the broader public.  

• Leverage media opportunities to advance the Los Angeles Master Chorale.  

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Organizational & Cultural Leadership 

• Lead a high-performing organization grounded in collaboration, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.  

• Support and retain a strong senior leadership team while fostering professional growth across the organization.  

• Promote a workplace culture that values inclusion, transparency, creativity, and mutual respect.  

• Ensure effective organizational systems, cross-departmental collaboration, and alignment around institutional priorities.  

• Balance strategic leadership with thoughtful execution and day-to-day organizational management.  

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Personnel Management? 

• Provide a transparent, collaborative, trust-based culture. 

• Foster a workplace culture in which staff feel connected to the mission, valued, and supported. 

• Ensure the Chorale attracts, retains, and develops talented and skilled staff, volunteers, and consultants who advance the mission effectively.? 

• Lead by example, managing personnel with professionalism, empathy, and a commitment to excellence.  

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TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED? 

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The President & CEO will be a mission-driven, strategic, and collaborative leader with integrity, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to the Chorale, its artists, and the communities it serves. The successful candidate will bring executive presence, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead with transparency, accountability, and empathy.  

An exceptional communicator and relationship-builder, the President & CEO will be skilled at engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including Board members, donors, artists, staff, community leaders, and institutional partners. Strong public speaking abilities and the capacity to clearly articulate the Chorale’s mission, vision, and impact are essential.  

The ideal candidate will possess strong fundraising and financial management skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate vision into action. They will demonstrate the ability to balance artistic ambition with organizational and financial sustainability while effectively managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.  

The President & CEO will value collaboration and demonstrate the ability to work effectively in partnership with artistic leadership in support of a shared institutional vision. A leadership style grounded in trust, inclusivity, consistency, and respect for others is essential, along with the ability to build consensus and foster strong internal and external relationships.  

Resilience, adaptability, diplomacy, good humor, and a collaborative spirit will be important personal attributes, as well as a genuine passion for the transformational power of choral music and the performing arts.  

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CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION?? 

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The successful candidate will bring senior leadership experience within a performing arts organization or comparably complex mission-driven institution, along with a genuine passion for choral music and the performing arts. Experience working in a partnership with artistic leadership and navigating the unique dynamics of creative organizations will be highly valued. The ideal candidate will demonstrate success in strategic planning, fundraising, financial oversight, organizational leadership, and community engagement. Experience building broad-based support through collaboration with Boards, donors, artists, staff, and community stakeholders is essential. Experience across key operational and programmatic areas of a performing arts organization, including audience development, marketing, education, programming, finance, and advancement, is preferred. Familiarity with touring, sponsorship, and institutional partnerships is also beneficial. The President & CEO will bring an appreciation for artists and the broader national and international choral landscape, as well as a commitment to artistic excellence, innovation, and community impact.  

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COMPENSATION & ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS? 

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The annual salary range for this position is $275,000-350,000. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. A comprehensive and competitive benefits package will be provided.  

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The President & CEO is expected to maintain a regular presence in the Chorale’s office located at The Music Center in Los Angeles and be available for frequent in-person meetings with staff, Board members, and community members, as well as attend events during evenings and weekends.