Chorus America Announces Transition of President and CEO Catherine Dehoney

Chorus America, the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field, announced that president and CEO Catherine Dehoney will conclude her tenure at the end of October 2024.  

Dehoney has led Chorus America since March 2015, after holding the position of chief development officer from 2000-2013. She has served Chorus America in either a consulting or staff capacity for almost 25 years. During Dehoney’s tenure as president, Chorus America has grown from an organization with a budget of $1.3 million and a staff of 8 to an organization with a budget of $2.4 million and a staff of 12.  

Under Dehoney’s leadership, Chorus America established the Music Education Partnership Grants program, a $2 million funding program supporting collaborations between community organizations dedicated to choral singing and schools. The organization launched new programs including the ADEI Learning Lab, a program for choral leaders who want to advance access, diversity, equity, and inclusion at their organizations, and the Choral Executive Leadership Academy, a leadership development program focusing on the skill development of leaders who have been marginalized because of race and ethnicity. Chorus America also published the 2019 Chorus Impact Study: Singing for a Lifetime, highlighting the positive impact that singing together has on people across generations, as well as on the communities in which they live. 

Dehoney guided Chorus America through the COVID-19 pandemic, forging partnerships with colleague organizations to provide scientifically informed guidance to the field and to advocate for continued support for choruses and their work during the pandemic.  

“I am so proud of all Chorus America has accomplished on behalf of choruses of all types over the years and its evolution to become ever more welcoming and inclusive. I’m also filled with gratitude for the opportunity to work with and learn from so many extraordinary leaders in the field and on the staff,” said Dehoney. “As president and CEO, it has been especially fulfilling to speak up about the immensely positive impact that choruses have on their communities and to move forward initiatives that strengthen choruses for the future. Choruses have an important role to play in empowering voices and fostering unity and I am excited for what lies ahead for our field.”   

“Catherine Dehoney has served Chorus America with distinction for nearly 25 years, first as director of development, later as a consultant, and finally as president and CEO,” said Chorus America Board Chair Anton Armstrong. “During her tenure as president of Chorus America, she skillfully led the organization through the turbulent COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when there was so much unknown about this virus and its impact on singing, Catherine emerged as one of the most influential and trusted voices offering well-researched information to help choruses and singers.  

“Furthermore, Catherine has guided innovative initiatives of Chorus America to serve the choral community. These new initiatives have paid special attention to serving the needs of too often marginalized choral organizations and their members. Noteworthy accomplishments include the establishment of the the Music Education Partnership Grants, the Choral Executive Leadership Academy, and the ADEI Learning Lab. 

“I know I speak for the Chorus America Board, staff, and our membership in saying Catherine will be sorely missed for her positive spirit, as well as her thoughtful, calm and steady leadership skills. She is a woman of deep compassion, yet clear vision, who has worked to build bridges with not only other choral music organizations, but partners throughout the performing arts industry.  She has been a true blessing to the work and mission of Chorus America, and she leaves the organization in an incredibly strong position to carry that work and mission forward." 

The Chorus America Board of Directors will form a committee to conduct a comprehensive search for the next Chorus America President and CEO.  

About Chorus America 

Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field. We support and serve choral conductors, administrators, board members, and singers with tools, training, peer networking, and access so that choruses are better able to contribute to their communities. Our membership includes more than 6,000 choruses, individuals, businesses, and organizations that are part of the choral field.  

Chorus America is governed by a diverse board of accomplished arts leaders from the U.S. and Canada, and the executive staff is headquartered in Washington DC. Learn more at chorusamerica.org. 

Download the full press release here:

Transition of President and CEO Catherine Dehoney Announcement.pdf