Artistic Faculty

Allow us to introduce ourselves! Twenty-four talented conductors, music theory instructors, accompanists, and vocal coaches serve on the faculty of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Many other talented musicians and performers also serve on the SFGC staff.

Susan McMane

Artistic Director, Chorissima Director and Alumnae Chorus Director

Elizabeth Avakian
Chorus School Director, Level IV Director

Joseph Fanvu
Level I Director

Margo Lockwood
Level II Director and Prep Chorus Director
Director of Outreach Programs

Emily Ryan
Level III Director

Susan Blinderman
Level IV Accompanist and Theory Instructor

Renée Witon
Theory Instructor

Susan Soehner
Chorissima Accompanist

Sung In Cho
Douglas Franks
Annie Hargraves
Kaori Nakano
Natsumi Shibagaki
Chorus School Accompanists

James Toland
Master Clinician & Faculty Voice Teacher

Janet Campbell
Jessica Deardorff Elder
Elizabeth Eshleman
Audrey Howitt
Justin Montigne
Julia Hunt Nielsen ‘84
Elizabeth Hunter
Sally Munro
Janis Wilcox
Voice Teachers

Tom Carter
Drama Coach

Brian Fisher
Choreographer

Carolyn Carvajal
Chorus School Choreographer

Kaori Nakano
Taryn Nilsen
Laura Ruppert
Prep Chorus Directors

Julia Hunt Nielsen ‘84
Outreach Faculty