Nancy Pelosi Leadership Speaker Series
NANCY PELOSI LEADERSHIP SPEAKER SERIES
Speaker Pelosi inaugurates new leadership initiative for SFGC choristers.
SAN FRANCISCO — September 10, 2026 — The San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) has launched the Nancy Pelosi Leadership Speaker Series, a new initiative bringing distinguished women leaders into direct conversation with SFGC choristers about leadership, resilience, service, and finding their own voices.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi inaugurated the series on September 8 at SFGC’s Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts, speaking with 100 choristers about her experiences in public service and the lessons in leadership she has learned throughout her historic career.
The new series expands SFGC’s commitment to preparing girls and young women for success both on stage and in life. Throughout the year, choristers will have opportunities to meet accomplished women from a broad range of fields — including the arts, business, technology, philanthropy, public service, and the nonprofit sector — and hear firsthand about the experiences that shaped their lives and careers.
“Having Speaker Pelosi launch this series was an extraordinary opportunity for our choristers,” said Mary Finch, Executive Director of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. “Our goal is to introduce our girls and young women to leaders who have taken very different paths but share qualities of courage, perseverance, curiosity, and commitment. These conversations complement the confidence and discipline our choristers develop through music and give them the opportunity to imagine what leadership can look like in their own lives.”
Artistic Director Valérie Sainte-Agathe said the inaugural conversation reflected values central to SFGC’s work with young people. “We are deeply grateful to Speaker Pelosi for sharing her time and wisdom with our
choristers,” Sainte-Agathe said. “Her message about being yourself, finding your own voice, and approaching others with respect resonated deeply with our singers. These are values we work to nurture every day through music.”
Board Chair Laura Lane added, “This series creates a remarkable opportunity for our choristers to learn directly from women whose leadership has made an impact in their communities and their fields. We are thrilled to see this new initiative become part of the SFGC experience.”
Additional speakers will be announced throughout the season, reflecting the series’ commitment to exposing choristers to many diVerent models and pathways of leadership.
The Nancy Pelosi Leadership Speaker Series is made possible through the generous support of Inaugural Sponsor Ann G. Miller, former Chair of the San Francisco Girls Chorus Board of Directors and longtime supporter of SFGC.
About the San Francisco Girls Chorus
Since 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus has been a leader in music education and vocal performance, preparing girls and young women for success on stage and in life through rigorous, empowering music education. Hundreds of singers from throughout the Bay Area participate in SFGC programs each year under the artistic leadership of Valérie Sainte-Agathe.