San Francisco Girls Chorus announces new Executive Director, 24-25 Season

Seth Ducey Appointed Executive Director for San Francisco Girls Chorus

Following a nationwide search, Ducey has been named as the director of the internationally acclaimed youth chorus training program

San Francisco, CA (September 25, 2024) — The Board of Directors of the San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Seth Ducey as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective September 30, 2024. Ducey brings over seven years of orchestra leadership experience to SFGC, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Golden State Youth Orchestra (GSYO) in Silicon Valley. In this role, he managed financial strategy, faculty and staff operations, and overall organizational management. Prior to his time at GSYO, Ducey was the Director of Operations and Education at the Oakland Symphony.   

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled that Seth expressed interest in assuming the role of Executive Director, and delighted that he accepted our offer. Seth will enhance the excellence of the Girls Chorus and work generously and productively with all involved in the Girls Chorus,” said Ann Miller, SFGC Board President. 

As the new Executive Director of San Francisco Girls Chorus, Ducey will focus on enhancing SFGC’s national and international presence as the preeminent leader in girls’ vocal training, development, and performance opportunities. He will collaborate closely with SFGC’s Board of Directors and Artistic Director, Valérie Sainte-Agathe, to maintain and enhance creative partnerships with Bay Area arts institutions. His responsibilities will include overseeing financial and strategic aspects of SFGC while providing compassionate leadership to young singers and their families.

“Becoming the new Executive Director of the San Francisco Girls Chorus aligns perfectly with my passion for arts education and my experience with youth orchestras,” said Ducey. “I am incredibly proud of my achievements at the Golden State Youth Orchestra, where I coordinated programming for six orchestras serving 460 students. Leading the talented team at SFGC is a true privilege, and I am dedicated to creating enriching opportunities for young women and gender-expansive youth.”

“San Francisco Girls Chorus is a cherished arts education institution with a rich legacy in the Bay Area,” said Valérie Sainte-Agathe, Artistic Director since 2013. “Our new leader must embody a passion for the arts and an empathetic approach to fostering inclusion. I am confident that Seth will be a valuable asset to our organization, and I look forward to collaborating with him to guide SFGC into its next chapter.”

Ducey will officially begin his role at SFGC at the start of the 2024–2025 Season, with the Premier Ensemble’s first performance kicking off on October 6, 2024 at San Francisco’s acclaimed Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival with Aoife O’Donovan. For a full list of performances and events this season, visit sfgirlschorus.org/performances. 

Seth Ducey’s Background
A graduate of Lawrence University in Wisconsin, Ducey joins the San Francisco Girls Chorus after a successful five-year tenure as Executive Director of the Golden State Youth Orchestra (GSYO) in Palo Alto. At GSYO, he achieved notable growth in student enrollment, developed new community initiatives, and led successful fundraising campaigns. His leadership also included navigating the organization through the pandemic and introducing its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program, which supports underrepresented Silicon Valley schools. Ducey also led GSYO on three international tours.

From 2017 to 2019, Ducey served as Director of Operations and Education at the Oakland Symphony, where he worked closely with the late Michael Morgan, who led the Symphony as the music director for 30 years. His earlier experience includes a 17-year tenure at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he managed concert operations and worked with both collegiate and pre-college students.

A passionate advocate for music education, Ducey was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Living Jazz in Oakland and previously served on the Oakland Youth Orchestra Board of Directors. He also participated in the 2011 Essentials of Orchestra Management training by the League of American Orchestras.

In his spare time, Ducey enjoys running, cooking, traveling, and following his favorite sports teams. 

About San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC)
Established in 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus prepares girls and young women from diverse backgrounds for success, on stage and in life, through rigorous, empowering music education, and enriches Bay Area cultural life through innovative vocal performance. 

Each year, more than 450 girls, young women, and gender-expansive youth from 45 Bay Area cities ranging in age from 4-18 participate in SFGC’s training programs. The organization has an annual operating budget of approximately $2.7M, with eight full time staff, 15 part-time staff, and a board of 10 and growing. 

Over its 45+ year history, SFGC has won five GRAMMY Awards, and toured to such illustrious venues as Lincoln Center, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Carnegie Hall. SFGC is an active collaborator in our vibrant SF Bay Area arts community, and performs regularly with premiere organizations such as the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Film Festival, and Kronos Quartet. 

SFGC owns and operates the Kanbar Performing Arts Center, which has become a hub for small to mid-size arts organizations in the Bay Area. In addition to SFGC’s own rehearsal and performance programs, the Kanbar Center provides long-term leased office space and rehearsal space for a variety of respected arts and culture organizations.