Administrative Staff

Alan Kleinschmidt, Executive Director

Alan Kleinschmidt has been the Executive Director of the San Francisco Choral Society since 1994. He has a wealth of show business experience having worked in professional theatre, jazz, cabaret, dance, musical theatre and choral music. His duties have ranged from front of house to backstage management; from box office manager to company manager; and marketing and development to executive director. He has worked for the San Francisco Ballet, Beach Blanket Babylon (the longest running Cabaret Show in history), the vocal ensemble Chanticleer, the Magic Theatre, with jazz legend Mose Allison, and torch singer Wesla Whitfield, along with a host of other projects and events. Alan started his career as a professional writer in the newspaper industry, before branching out and following the entertainment industry path. Early in his career, Alan wrote an entertainment column and theatre reviews. He is a graduate of Arizona State University with a B.S. In Journalism, and minor studies in Theatre and Advertising. Besides overseeing the Choral Society, Alan is on staff at Sonoma State University where he is the Senior Associate on the summertime Green Music Festival, and heads up the Marketing and Promotions for the Center For The Performing Arts. He is playing a principal role in the development of the new Green Music Festival facility that will be built on the SSU Campus. Alan is a former singer, and past Choral Society Board member. Alan is looking forward to the day when he has time to get back to his passions...singing, writing, acting and traveling. But, for the time being, he’s leading a charmed life working with the Chorus and the University.

Susan Kalman, Business Manager

Susan Kalman, Business Manager of the San Francisco Choral Society, joined SF Choral in 1995 as treasurer . . . and as an alto. She served as treasurer from 1995-1997 and as a board member from 1995-1998 and was hired to fill the newly created position of business manager in 1998. Susan is an accounting consultant in the Bay Area. Her present and past client list includes Related Content Database, Masterworks Chorale of San Mateo, California Mortgage & Realty, Otis Spunkmeyer, Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, and McKesson Corporation. For the 12 years prior to 1994, she worked as an auditor in the public accounting industry, where her clients included not-for-profit organizations (private schools, homeowners’ associations, American Indian tribes), real estate developers, and trucking companies. Her additional not-for-profit affiliations (present and past) include serving as accountant for San Francisco Lyric Chorus, treasurer and board member of San Francisco Sinfonietta Orchestra, treasurer and board member of Co-Opera, secretary and board member of San Francisco City Chorus, and treasurer and board member of Professional BusinessWomen of California. Susan is a graduate of San Diego State University and holds a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting. She previously studied voice with Theresa Cardinale and sings with Masterworks Chorale in addition to SF Choral.

Marilyn McDonald, Administrative Coordinator

Marilyn McDonald has been with SF Choral since 1994 – first as a singer, then as a singer/volunteer, then as staff member starting in 1998. She is now Administrative Coordinator (glorified secretary, graphic designer). Technology makes it possible for her to “commute” to San Francisco from her home in St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition to her position with SF Choral, she is a professional voice actor; she also handles web design and promotion for her sister, artist Marci McDonald.