GALA Board & Committees
Board members are elected to three-year terms. The current roster of the GALA Choruses Board of Directors is below. To contact the Board of Directors, please send an e-mail to info@galachoruses.org.
Officers

* Maria-Elena Grant
President
Lavender Light Gospel Choir
New York, NY

Jeff Chapdelaine*
Vice-President
Boston, MA

* Michael McDonald
Secretary
Portland Gay Men's Chorus
Portland, OR

Karen Lane
Treasurer
Seattle, WA

Doug Althauser
Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Columbus, OH

Tim Blanchard-Modisette
New York City Gay Men’s Chorus
New York, NY

Jared Brayton Bollenbacher
Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Columbus, OH

John Carrion
New York City Gay Men's Chorus
New York City, NY

Miriam Davidson
Anna Crusis Feminist Choir
Philadelphia, PA

Chipper Dean
Gay Men's Chorus of Wash. DC
Washington, DC

Justin Fyala
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
Washington, DC

Abdullah Rasheen Hall
Trans Chorus of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

Steve Milloy
Men Alive, Orange County's Gay Men's Chorus
Santa Ana, CA

Joe Nadeau
SingOUT KC
Kansas City, MO

Carol Paskulin
Sacramento Women’s Chorus
Sacramento, CA

Jeff Smith
Phoenix Gay Men's Chorus
Phoenix, AZ

Kristen Stinnett
Common Woman Chorus
Durham, NC

Oscar Urtusástegui
Coro Gay Ciudad de Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
* Executive Committee Members
GALA Committees
Finance Committee
Karen Lane, Chair
Specific Responsibilities
- Review of the annual operating plan for the corporation prior to its submission for full
Board approval. - Review of monthly financial reports containing an analysis of actual vs. budgeted results
and a forecast of cash flows for the remainder of the year. - Annual review of the internal control and investment policies.
- Annual review of the corporation's annual financials with the auditors and of the Form 990
filing with the IRS. - Annual review of the corporation's insurance program.
- Annual review of the corporation's banking and credit arrangements
Membership Committee
Chipper Dean and Tim Blanchard Modisette, Co-Chairs
Specific Responsibilities
- Oversight of the process for supporting new member choruses and training existing members
on the use of GALA programs and services. - Assistance with the recognition of member chorus anniversaries
- Oversight of the process for obtaining and disseminating survey information to member
choruses. - Assistance with identifying options for support of transgender singers and youth
choruses.
Education and Networking
Brayton Bollenbacher, Chair
Specific Responsibilities
- Oversight of the annual leadership symposium and the manager's and director's retreat.
- Oversight of the 411 program.
- Oversight of the online member resources programs including webinars and podcasts, the
resource library and online chorus management educational materials.
External Relations
Steve Milloy, Chair
Specific Responsibilities
- Participation in the Global Alliance of Queer Choirs
- Oversight of relationships with mainstream music organizations such as ACDA and Chorus America
- Oversight of work with schools, universities and communities of faith
Resource Development Committee
Justin Fyala, Chair
Specific Responsibilities
- Provide oversight and assistance in the development of the annual individual donation
campaign which includes board contributions. - Provide oversight and assistance in the development of the corporate sponsorship
relationships. - Provide oversight and assistance in the development of foundation relationships and grant
applications.
Festival Committee
Joe Nadeau and Kathleen Hansen, Co-Chairs
Specific Responsibilities
- Provide oversight of the planning and budgeting for the quadrennial Festival and critical
review of the final festival report. - Assist in the development of a database of cities capable of hosting Festival.
Communications Committee
Miriam Davidson, Chair
Specific Responsibilities
- Assist in the development of strategies to keep the membership engaged via social
media. - Provide oversight of the development and maintenance of the organization's web site.
- Assist in the creation of a strategy and plan for electronic communications.
Governance Committee
Michael McDonald, Chair
Specific Responsibilities
- Establish a matrix of skills, geographic location and chorus type to guide the Board in
achieving an appropriate diversity of representation. - Identify individuals to recruit to the Board and make the appropriate contacts to determine
their interest in Board service. - Prepare a slate of candidates for nomination to the Board.
- Coordinate the orientation of new Board member
New Harmony Taskforce
Maria-Elena Grant, Chair
Specific Responsibilities
- Produce and update of the New Harmony Workbook
- Advise member choruses on DEI issues as requested through the 411 Program.
- Advise the Board of Directors on matters of equity, access and belonging.