Melanie Smith Announces Departure, Joins SF Performances

May 10, 2016 Dear Friends of the San Francisco Girls Chorus,

I am writing to inform you that our Executive Director, Melanie Smith, will be leaving the Chorus to become the new President of San Francisco Performances succeeding its founder Ruth Felt, who will retire this fall. This is a great and logical move for Melanie, taking her back to her roots. While very sad that she is leaving the San Francisco Girls Chorus, I am also excited for her as she moves into this next phase of an already distinguished career. Melanie will continue with the Chorus through June.

The Chorus would not be where it is today without Melanie's incredible contributions over the past ten years. When she started with us, we were a small, regional chorus in a recently purchased, and nearly empty, building on Page Street. Since then, we have weathered the Great Recession, seen Page Street become a new hub in the performing arts district as well as a significant source of revenue, changed our artistic direction, and become a highly regarded performing arts organization on the national and international stages, while never losing sight of our mission to empower young women. Were it not for Melanie’s exceptional leadership and administrative skills, it is doubtful any of these transformations would have occurred. I am personally grateful for her efforts and for the privilege of working with her the past two years.

The Board of Directors will find a time to thank Melanie and wish her well, most likely in June. In the meantime, the Executive Committee will be working on our next steps in the search for Melanie’s successor.

Please join me and the entire Board of the San Francisco Girls Chorus in wishing Melanie well in her exciting new role. To read more about the appointment please read San Francisco Performances' press release.

Sincerely,

Shelton Ensley