SAN FRANCISCO (June 2, 2026) — The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) and The Chan National Queer Arts Center today announced the appointment of prominent Ford Foundation executive Lane Sugata as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, for an initial two-year term to lead the nation’s historically first gay men’s chorus and preeminent LGBTQ+ choral organization.
Sugata succeeds Christopher Verdugo, who announced his intention to step down last September after a 10-year tenure. During the next few months, Verdugo will consult with Sugata for a leadership transition and continuity of vision on the eve of the Chorus’s 49th season. Today’s announcement coincides with the beginning of San Francisco’s joyous Pride month celebration.
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus partnered with Arts Consulting Group (ACG) on the recruitment for the CEO by leading an extensive search fielding applicants from across North America.
Announcing today’s news, SFGMC Board Chair Tom Paulino said, “The word the Board of Directors would use to describe Lane is: visionary. Lane’s comprehensive, data-informed approach to problem solving coupled with their person-centered leadership style make for a potent combination that will prove most effective as the next Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.”
Paulino continued, “Lane’s transformative work with Dance/NYC and most recently, the Ford Foundation — uplifting and collaborating with marginalized communities — informs their strategy for positioning The Chan National Queer Arts Center as a hub for innovative and inspiring partnerships with artists of all disciplines throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.”
“With Lane at the helm of this next chapter in SFGMC’s story,” Paulino added, “I am thrilled to introduce our community to the next leader who will meet this moment in our history and shepherd the mission of this institution to new and greater heights.”
SFGMC CEO Designate Lane Sugata said, “The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sits uniquely at the intersection of artistry, activism, and community — creating not only beautiful music, but refuge, visibility, and hope for generations of LGBTQ people. At a moment of heightened division and attack, I see tremendous opportunity for the Chorus to expand its role as a force for free expression and community resilience — and to shape a more courageous and connected future.”
Sugata continued, “This role brings together so many parts of my life and work: my roots in the Bay Area arts community, my commitment to LGBTQ justice, and my belief in the power of culture to move people, build belonging, and inspire action. I’m deeply honored to join this extraordinary organization and excited to help shape an ambitious next chapter for the Chorus and for queer cultural life in San Francisco and beyond.”
SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg noted, “Getting to know Lane has been an absolute joy, and I can’t wait for our community to experience the vision, heart, and energy they bring to this role. Lane’s extraordinary leadership and deep commitment to artists, equity, and community will help propel the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus into an exciting new chapter. They are bold, magnetic, deeply collaborative, and unafraid to dream big. I truly believe great things are ahead for SFGMC!”
ABOUT LANE SUGATA (they/them/theirs)
Lane Sugata is a nationally recognized arts, philanthropy, and nonprofit leader with deep roots in the Bay Area’s cultural and LGBTQ communities. Currently a Senior Program Officer at the Ford Foundation, they have managed more than $270 million in grants advancing creativity, civic engagement, and social justice in the United States and globally.
At Ford, Lane has played a prominent cross-foundation role advancing LGBTQ justice, helping align philanthropy, movement organizations, artists, and cultural institutions during a period of profound political and social change. Their work has focused on strengthening the visibility, sustainability, and power of artists and communities while building innovative partnerships across sectors and movements.
Prior to Ford, Lane served as Executive Director of Dance/NYC, helping transform the organization into a leading voice for equity, labor advocacy, and cultural policy in the performing arts. Across their career, they have earned a reputation as a collaborative strategist, coalition-builder, and champion for the role of arts and culture in civic life.
A former student at the San Francisco Ballet and graduate of University of California, Berkeley, Lane returns to San Francisco with both national stature and a deeply personal connection to the region. Their husband is based in the Bay Area, making the move both a professional and personal homecoming. Lane serves on the boards of Funders for LGBTQ Issues and Association of Performing Arts Professionals.
SFGMC CEO DESCRIPTION
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will oversee all operational aspects of SFGMC, ensuring an efficient, effective, and fiscally sound organization. The CEO will be charged with sustaining the operation through strong management and business accountability, while fostering creative and imaginative programming and education/outreach activities serving diverse audiences. The overall position responsibilities include ensuring financial sustainability, community engagement, fundraising, strategic planning, capital planning, board relations, and staff management. The CEO will be a visible ambassador, fundraiser, and collaborator, working closely with the Board, Artistic Director, staff, singers, and broader community to ensure SFGMC’s long-term impact and resilience. The approximate budget of the organization is $5.1 million.
ABOUT SFGMC
Founded in 1978, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sparked a nationwide LGBTQ+ choral movement with its first public performance at a candlelight vigil on the steps of City Hall following the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Since that moment, SFGMC has become an essential part of the cultural fabric of San Francisco and beyond—soothing souls in times of pain, lifting spirits in moments of triumph, and serving as a steadfast beacon of hope, resilience, and pride.
In recent seasons, SFGMC has achieved new artistic heights and national recognition. Innovative programming, bold commissions, and acclaimed recordings have broadened the Chorus’s impact, while national and international tours—including the historic Lavender Pen Tour, Gay Chorus Deep South documentary tour, and the Love Tour—have amplified its mission far beyond the Bay Area.
SFGMC is also a leader in community engagement through education and outreach programs that inspire and empower the next generation. In 2019, the Chorus acquired its first permanent home, a historic facility in San Francisco’s Mission District, which now houses rehearsals, offices, and The Chan National Queer Arts Center. Officially opened on October 30, 2023, The Chan is the nation’s first community arts hub dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists and organizations, ensuring that queer voices continue to thrive, create, and transform lives through the power of music and art.
ARTS CONSULTING GROUP (ACG) is the leading provider of hands-on leadership transitions, revenue enhancement, and planning and capacity-building services for the arts and culture industry. Founded in 1997, ACG is a full-service firm that effectively works with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, universities, government agencies, and for-profit entities that operate in the creative industries. The firm takes a contemporary approach to client challenges and opportunities focused on growing institutions, advancing arts and culture, and enhancing communities. ACG senior team members have leadership experience in every artistic and cultural discipline, and they seamlessly adapt to clients’ rapidly changing strategies, business models, and operating environments.
COMING UP NEXT
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will present Dolly! A Pride Show featuring 225 singers, dancers and musicians in performances on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the Green Music Center on the campus of Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, and Saturday, June 13 at 1 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. For tickets and more details, visit www.sfgmc.org.
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Press Contact: Jon Finck, SFGMC publicist
[email protected] / +1 415 577 1323
Please connect for interviews, artwork and press credentials.
Lane Sugata photo credit: Simon Luethi
