Annual Report
2024 - 2025
A message from our Board President
Our 27th season took us on a journey through time and place, considering where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what we’ll leave behind. We are so grateful to our patrons, donors, friends, and family for going on the journey with us.
The 2024-2025 season was a year of growth and development for the OCWC, centered around music that made all the difference. These are some of the things the OCWC accomplished with your support during the 2024-2025 season:
We began our 2024-2025 season with a look back at where we’ve been on our OCWC tours, singing songs from England and Wales, Canada, and Croatia, including Derek Holman’s Sir Christëmas.
We dreamed together at our annual “Glass of Cabaret” fundraiser, during which solos and small groups serenaded the audience as they enjoyed delicious treats, wine graciously provided by ElementAL Wines, and an incredible silent auction. With your help, we exceeded our fundraising goal and donated 25% of our proceeds to the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund, which offered emergency grants to artists affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.
In our March 2025 concerts, we looked forward to where we’re going, singing songs of purpose, power, resistance, and renewal.
You made our annual i♥OCWC online fundraiser a rousing success, again helping us exceed our goal.
Our Assistant Director, Sarah Hughes, led us for our June 2025 concert, during which we sang of creatures, climate, and what we’ll leave behind.
During our June 2025 concert, the OCWC performed the West Coast premier of Katerina Gimon’s Unsung, a sweeping multi-movement piece that takes audiences through the impacts of climate change on the Canadian landscape.
We are so grateful for your ongoing support. Our success would not be possible without your gifts. Thank you for continuing to believe in our mission, encouraging us to keep singing about inspiring and relevant subjects, and buoying us as we continue our journey in the hopes of achieving even bigger goals in the future!
Katrina Veldkamp President, Board of Directors
This season included fundraising events, bringing meaningful music to 2 3 programs and 1,256 patrons.
Our program repertoire showcased works by 7 who are no longer with us—including women and 16 men. 13 living and 22 29 composers,
4,680
Together, our 60 singers dedicated hours to rehearsals.
Our social media presence grew by 77% compared to last year, reaching followers across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
1,976 74 first-time supporters— helped raise $113,774. 282 donors—including
Our community of singers spans 5 generations. Over half have never seen a rotary telephone!
Our commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion
We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment where board members, staff, volunteers, chorus members and audience members feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability status or educational level.
We are committed to being nondiscriminatory and providing equal opportunities for employment, volunteering and advancement in all areas of our work.
We recognize that pervasive cultural biases and historic and institutional racism—whether conscious or unconscious, past or present—have benefited some communities while limiting opportunities and outcomes for communities of color. As artists, we seek to communicate with our audiences—and with each other—in ways that will shape a more positive and equitable future for everyone.
We respect the value that diverse life experiences bring to our board and leadership, and we strive to listen to and value the views and perspectives of our members and our audience.
A message from our Artistic Director
“I needed that.”
Those are three of our favorite words to hear, from our singers and from our audience members, and we heard them a lot this past season. When the world feels uncertain, music’s more important than ever—as a balm, as a motivation, as a distraction. Our Tuesday-night rehearsals are group therapy. Our concerts, we hope, are some blend of refuge, entertainment, community, and catalyst, in whatever proportions you need when you spend your afternoon or evening with us.
We began the 2024-25 season still flying high from our trip to Croatia, and eager to bring some souvenirs of our travels to our local friends. In March, we turned inward for a deeply personal program—a collection of ostensibly dissimilar music that I chose because it spoke to the anxiety of facing a new era in our shared history, and to the conviction that raising our voices together mattered more than ever.
And when I took an eight-week sabbatical in April and May, our brilliant Assistant Director, Sarah Hughes, stepped in to deliver a thrilling concert of music about our fragile planet, in all its beauty and agitation. What a joy to watch and listen as Sarah, Kirsten, and the chorus brought their audience to its feet with a triumphant musical (and meteorological) program of rivers, hurricanes, glaciers, and grasslands.
I needed that. I needed all of it. It’s our deepest wish that you, too, will always find something you need in our singing—something words alone can’t capture, something that speaks to feelings you haven’t yet named, something that brings you closer to the people and the planet around you, or simply to yourself.
Thanks for trusting us to sing music that matters. As I enter my second quarter-century as the Artistic Director of this extraordinary community, I’ve never been more honored or more humbled to keep striving toward higher ground and singing toward a better world.
Eliza Rubenstein Artistic Director
Artistic highlights of our 2024—2025 season included...
Three Journeys: Where We’ve Been
December 7 and 8, 2024
In December, we took our audience with us to the three international destinations we’ve visited: the British Isles, Canada, and Croatia! Derek Holman's infectiously wacky Sir Christëmas and a collection of songs we learned from our new friends in Zagreb highlighted our “Three Journeys: Where We’ve Been” concert, which also saw the conducting debut of our 2024-25 Conducting Intern, Kirsten Leon.
Our March concert, “Two Roads: Where We’re Going,” reflected upon the forking path that the prior election year represented for our country. We sang works spanning the spectrum from Francis Poulenc to Sweet Honey in the Rock, from grief to fear to resolve to hope. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for”—wise words from June Jordan—opened and closed the program, and remain our mantra in an uncertain age.
Eliza Rubenstein, Artistic Director
Sarah Hughes, Assistant Director Janelle Kim, Pianist
Cassie Luftspring:
On Christmas (2018)
Heather Masse: Bird Song
Katerina Gimon: “Grassland” from Unsung: If The Earth Could Sing (2025)
Artistic leaders
Janelle Kim, Pianist
Eliza Rubenstein, Artistic Director
Sarah Hughes, Assistant Director
About us
Mission
The Orange County Women’s Chorus creates and performs outstanding choral literature, engages and enriches our audiences, and celebrates women in music.
Vision
The Orange County Women’s Chorus is nationally regarded as an artistic and organizational leader in women’s choral music.
Values
We, the singers and Board members of the Orange County Women’s Chorus, value:
Excellence: The Orange County Women’s Chorus pursues artistic excellence by recruiting talented and dedicated musicians, preparing and performing choral music with the highest level of artistic integrity, and commissioning new works for women’s voices.
Community: The Orange County Women’s Chorus fosters a deeply felt sense of community among its members. We support each other, have fun, and work together to achieve artistic excellence. The OCWC strives to extend this sense of community to our audiences, collaborators, and donors.
Diversity: The Orange County Women’s Chorus embraces different perspectives and abilities. We are women who come from a variety of backgrounds, life experiences, and professions, ranging in age from young adult to retirees. We are committed to performing music from different cultures and eras, in original languages.
Leadership: The Orange County Women’s Chorus is an advocate for women’s choral music and for women in music. We commission and perform new work for women’s voices and we offer opportunities for women to develop expertise and gain recognition as singers and conductors. Our board is actively engaged in organizational development, and is committed to adopting best practices for nonprofits and lifelong learning.
Financial highlights
Our financial strength in our 2024–2025 season was made possible by your generous individual gifts, the outstanding support of our singers, and foundation grants. In addition, our season ticket sales continued at higher-than-ever levels, and our individual ticket sales for every program exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the second year in a row. We continue to manage our expenses carefully, and are committed to ensuring that the OCWC will share our music with the community for years to come.
How we’re funded
This year, 59% of our contributed revenue came from individuals and corporations— including our singers and board members. Ticket sales accounted for 20% of our operating revenue, and we’re excited to see that figure continue to grow. Grants provided 7% of our annual funding, while investment income contributed a larger share than in past years thanks to strategic placements in certificates of deposit and high-yield savings accounts earning about 4.25%.
How we use our money
As in previous years, the majority of our funding—70%—was dedicated to programming, including artistic compensation, production costs, and marketing. Management and administrative expenses decreased slightly to 16%, thanks to cost savings realized during the year. Fundraising remained steady, representing 7% of total operating expenses.
Unaudited Statement of Financial Position
Unaudited Statement of Activities
Administrative leaders 2024-2025
BOARD PRESIDENT
KATRINA VELDKAMP TOURS AND COMMISSIONING
MARJORIE A. BEALE
MARY C. LANGSDORF
A. BRATTON
OPERATIONS
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
MARGUERITE DUPRIEU AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
JASMINE NICHOLSON FOUNDING AND IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
LAURA RAYNES
DATA ANALYTICS FOR AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING
HILLARY PEARSON
OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY
ALEC WATERS CHORUS ADMINISTRATOR
JANET
LAUREL CHOWDHURY
Contributors
Dame Ethel Smyth’s Suffragist Army (Gifts of $2,500 and above)
Archarios Foundation
Janet Bratton and Tom Nichols
Laurel and Debashis Chowdhury
InPack, Inc.
Mary and Bill Langsdorf
Leslie and Robert Mulford
Orange County Community Foundation, Robert & Doreen Marshall Fund for Dramatic Arts and Classical Music
Ellen Quandahl and Larry Wheeler
Laurie Soderberg, Kristen Soderberg, and Luke Goebel
Karen Zfaty
Clara Schumann’s Musical Family (Gifts of $1,500 to $2,499)
Marjorie Beale and William Meyerhoff
Cynthia and David Knell
Cheryl Maxson
Sara and Harry Veldkamp
Mary Watson
Hildegard von Bingen’s Community of Vision (Gifts of $500 to $1,499)
Kathryn and Nick Baldasari
Benevity, Inc.
Susan and Jeffrey Berkel
AYCO Charitable Foundation, Jeffrey A. and Susan L. Berkel Fund
Gillian Bidgood
Nancy Burke and Dominic Holzhaus
Sherry Caldwell
Elizabeth Cowan and Rebecca Chadwick
Braddie and David Dooley
John Feeney
Pat and Dick George
Doreen Harmon
Faith and Steven James
Chiara and Vincent Ko
Tracy and Barry Kogen
Karen and James McBride
Shauna McFadden and Shanna George
Darlene Moen
Patricia Morgan
Morris Family Foundation
Jane Pape
PwC
Laura Raynes and Mark Dizon
Kent Rhodes and Bob Gunn
Tegan Roberts
Calvin and Caroline Roetzel
Lisa Roetzel and Alan Terricciano
Margie and Gary Sacks
Martha Selby
Sharon and Mike Sheffield
Scott Shipley
Val Simson
Dr. Sharon Stevenson
Claire and David Stoneman
Linda Tilden
Barbara and James van Gaasbeek
Katrina Veldkamp and Michael Fischer
Megan and Alec Waters
Fanny Mendelssohn’s Musical Salon (Gifts of $150 to $499)
Shruthi Aiyar
Sue and Nick Alexopoulos
Emi Allen
Erin and Jon Allen
Lindsey Almquist
Kelly and Philip Arnold
Mike Auchter
Jayne and David Baldwin
Linda Barnhurst
Diana Bellafiore
Elizabeth Bjornsti and Christopher Persichilli
Carol and Larry Black
Peter and Melissa Browning
Kristin Byrnes
JoJo and Mike Caprini
Richard and Libby Cook
Boska and Joseph Dzida
Bill and Beth Eldon
Dylan Faulcon
Janelle Forney
Steve Forney
Ymène Fouli
Kendal Frear
Merrilee J. Gardner
Renée Gehlbach
Allison Gibbons
Adriana Gomez
Janice and Paul Goodwin
Samantha and Tom Gossage
Michael Guscott
Ako Harada
Mary Harmon
KJ (Kim) Heidebrecht
Randall Hodges
Barbara Hook
Martha and Darrell Hughes
Abigail Jimenez
Bethany and Aaron Justice
Kai Kanatsiz
Kristin Kennedy
Genie Kirchner
Jeff Kogen
Felicia Lee
Kate MacPherson
Raaga Mahesh
Kate Manders
Theresa and Mark McManigal
Karina Melgar
John Middlebrooks
Tasha Miller
Logan Mintz-Hernandez
Molly and Dawn Molt
Neeti Nanda
Jasmine Nicholson
Kevin Nicholson
Brian Noel
Fiona Parker
Francie Quaas-Berryman
Linda C. Radano and David Shuler
Doreen C. Ramsey
Andrea Romero
Elyse and Brad Rosborough
Eliza Rubenstein
Paul Sandorff
Lindsie Hardy Seagren
Carroll S. Seron
Jaimelynn Shah
Sherri Sobel
Laurie Soderberg
Rachel and Joe Sosta
Maddison Sperry
Cathryn Starr and Ronald Banks
Mariko Takahashi
Brittany Traufler
Petrina Walker
Anne Walthall
Lynn West
Stephanie and Keith Wright
Jennifer Yalamanchi
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani’s Chorus (Gifts up to $149)
Lorna Adkins
Michelle Ahumada
Nicole Aldrich
Susan Anderson
Beth Anderson-Harold
Mark Anthony
Elizabeth Armstrong
Carole Arvidson
Catherine Bailey
Elizabeth Baker
Reetu Bala
Wendy Ballard
Linda and George Bauer
Sarah Benson
Willam Bentley
Kieran and Marilyn Bergin
Jessica Blair
Christopher Blank and Josie Badeaux
Rosalyn Botuchis
Joan and Ron Breuch
Sondra Burgoyne
Deborah and Don Calkins
Kathryn Cartelli
Donna Catalano
Benjamin Cauffman
Kristina Chatow
Vivian Cook and Chet Wescott
Carolyn Cooper
Joann Craig
Robert and Mary Kim De Wolf
Myrna Dillon and Griff Hill
Diana D’Itri
Ernest Duarte
Gail Dufour
Dolores Ealy-O’Neal
Stephanie Eckerman
Susan Engelhart
Carolyn Estrada
Matt Ferrell
Julie Fischer
Molly Fitts
Shannon Fowler
Kathy Fraga
Channing Freeman
Susan Garrett
Laurie Girand
Oliver Glenn
Marissa Gonzalez
Patricia Goodman
Bonnie and Bill Hall
Cricket Handler
Judy Hante
Lela and Scott Hardy
Autry Harper
Patricia Heilig
Christine Hensley
Anne Herron
Jane Herron
Karen Ann Hurst
Nan Hussey
Melanie Inskeep
Chardette Jameson
Virginia Johns
Dani Johnson
Jassel Kaye
Barbara Kingsbury
Cheryl Knudsen
Randi Kraemer
Kroger
Deborah Kuryan
Barbara and Bill Lacey
Arlie Langager
Jillian Lappetito
Susan and Rich Liechty
Kenneth Litvack
Donovan Loomis
Delight Lucas
Ashley Mac
Amanda Mahlow
Jacob Manczyk
Mary Martin
Judith Marx
Linda Mayer
Donna McCune
Heather McFadden
Mary McFadden
Joseph McVeigh
Thomas and Susan Meisenhelder
Deborah Mendelsohn
Catherine and John Miles
Natalie Miles
Harris Miller
Liz Miller
Maria Moretti
Dolores Mortier
Carrie and Kaz Mulcahy
Sindy Murray
Nicolette Myers
Angela Nelson
Michael and Joan Neuscheler
Helen Okie
Shannon Ord
Kay Ostensen
Karine Parry
Neal Paton
Sharon Phelps
Clay Phillips
Lois Phillips
Linda and JT Price
Mandi Raspudic
Edwin Reese
Guy Regev
Julie and Ben Roberts
Margret Roberts
Vicki and David Roberts
Dr. Stephen Rochford
Mary Roetzel
Jennifer Rohen
Meghan and Eric Ruggio
Mai Saito
Varsha Sampath
Diane Scalzo
Joann and Craig Schaum
Janice Schneider
Mary Scifres
Anne Seagren
Griffin Seagren
Catherine Sharbaugh
Prin Sielski
Bonnie Simon
Janet Smith
Sharon Smith
Magen Solomon
John and Shawna Sorber
Diane Sovereign
Jodie Spanos
Michelle Sperry
Heather Spickard and Alexander Demetrescu
Nathan Staph
Thyra Tegner
James Toledano
Bruce Tunell
Lindsey Ueberroth
Vanessa Vail
Luke Verseput
Murray and April Wachtenheim
Kathleen Wahl
Kenneth Waldram
Marie Washington
Vonnie Waters
Peter Wernett
Beverly and Mike Wirtz
Alan Yamashiro
In-kind Donors
The OCWC gratefully acknowledges the following individuals, businesses, and organizations for their generous in-kind donations of goods and services in the 2024–2025 season. These include donations to our silent auction, use of facilities, and pro bono or discounted services. We encourage our supporters to patronize the arts and cultural organizations and businesses below.
Kelly and Philip Arnold
Kathryn and Nick Baldasari
Baroque Music Festival
Diana Bellafiore
Elizabeth Bjornsti and Christopher Persichilli
Bogle Winery
Janet Bratton and Tom Nichols
Canterbury Consulting
Cabrillo Playhouse
Chance Theater
Choral Arts Initiative
Laurel and Debashis Chowdhury
Coastal Kitchen
Allison Gibbons
Christina and Mike Grant
Ako Harada
Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano
Irvine Barclay Theatre
Kristin Kennedy
Cynthia and David Knell
Chiara and Vincent Ko
Laguna Art Museum
Laguna Beach Chamber Singers
Laguna Playhouse
Mary and Bill Langsdorf
Lyon Air Museum
Lyric Opera of Orange County
Shauna McFadden and Shanna George
MenAlive - OC Gay Men’s Chorus
Muckenthaler Cultural Center
Leslie and Robert Mulford
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church
Orbit Printing
Pacifica Hotels
Pacific Chorale
Pacific Symphony
Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Francie Quaas-Berryman
Ellen Quandahl and Larry Wheeler
Lisa Roetzel and Alan Terricciano
Andrea Romero
South Coast Repertory
South Coast Symphony
St. George’s Episcopal Church
St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church
STOS Partners
Trader Joe’s
Vouri Clothing
Mary Watson
Webb Grain Works
Wiens Cellars
Stephanie Wright
