Chris Verdugo
Chris Verdugo (he/him) is honored to be the first CEO of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. His introduction to the gay choral movement came at the early age of 18, when he joined the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida. Three years later, he became Artistic Director of Paragon Productions, choreographing, directing, and producing theatrical productions for cruise lines and hotels throughout the world. In 1999, he combined his event production background with his fundraising skills, working with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Miami Beach’s Winter Party Music Festival, and on the board of directors for the South Beach Gay Men’s Chorus.
Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2003, Verdugo began to focus on LGBT and social justice issues, working with various nonprofits including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Equality California, Human Rights Campaign, and GLAAD, and producing Queer Lounge at Sundance for four years.
He joined the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles in 2006 as a singer and five years later was named Executive Director. Under Verdugo, the chorus built an international reputation for musical excellence, doubled its budget, experienced a massive expansion incorporating education programs in Los Angeles’ high schools, and launched a national music tour entitled, “It Gets Better!”
He joined the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in 2016 as Executive Director and in 2022 was appointed Chief Executive Officer. In addition to his duties with the chorus, he oversees the Chan National Queer Arts Center, the nation’s first Queer Arts Center.
Verdugo is a proud member of the Recording Academy and serves as a Senior Advisor to Source Journeys, the leading LGBTQ luxury travel company.