San Francisco Girls Chorus

The San Francisco Girls Chorus, established in 1978 by Elizabeth Appling, is a regional center for music education and performance for girls and young women, ages 4–18, based in San Francisco. Each year, more than 300 singers from 45 Bay Area cities participate in SFGC's programs. The organization consists of a professional-level performance, recording, and touring ensemble and a six-level Chorus School training program. In addition to annual engagements with the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Symphony, SFGC has engaged in artistic partnerships such as the New York Philharmonic's Biennial Festival of New Music at Lincoln Center in June 2016 in collaboration with The Knights orchestra; SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras in April 2017 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC; and Carnegie Hall in February 2018 with the Philip Glass Ensemble. The 2018–2019 Season marked SFGC's first year under the leadership of Artistic Director Valérie Sainte-Agathe. (Sainte-Agathe had been appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor in 2013.) Previous Artistic Directors were Elizabeth Appling (1978–1992), Sharon J. Paul (1992–2000), Magen Solomon (2000, interim), Susan McMane (2001–2012), Brandon Brack (2012, interim), and SFGC alumna Lisa Bielawa (2013–2018).