Cathedral Choral Society Announces Key Leadership Updates August 4, 2025

Emma Moores Named Executive Director and Steven Fox Extends Term as Music Director

Washington, D.C. – The Cathedral Choral Society (CCS) is pleased to announce the extension of Music Director Steven Fox’s contract through the 2028-29 season and the appointment of Emma Moores as executive director on September 1, 2025.  Additional leadership updates include Gabriela Calderon who was promoted to director of communication and philanthropy. Calderon was previously patron and donor manager for the chorus. Rounding out the leadership team is Kathleen Welling, deputy executive director of artistic administration, and Dr. Joy Schreier, assistant conductor and accompanist.

Fox was named CCS music director in 2017, and with this contract extension, he will have completed 10 seasons with the chorus in 2028-2029.  “I am honored to be continuing as Cathedral Choral Society’s music director through the spring of 2029. CCS has achieved some significant milestones these past few years. Something special is happening in this chorus right now, and I am excited to continue to build our sound and our repertoire, as well as our audience and outreach, during these next few years.” 

Fox added, “As part of the search committee, I was looking forward to finding a great leadership partner. I am so glad that CCS has found this in Emma Moores. She brings a wealth of leadership experience in development, marketing, and operations from her many years at the Washington Chorus. We are very lucky that she will now be bringing her gifts to CCS. I am personally very excited to work with her to lead CCS to greater heights in the coming years.” 

Moores said, “I am thrilled to step into this role to support the immensely talented CCS staff, actively engaged board of trustees and deeply dedicated volunteer singers. Together, we serve a vital function for our Washington, DC community by bringing awe-inspiring artistry to one of the most extraordinary venues in our nation—and beyond. I look forward to building upon CCS’s storied legacy of excellence and co-leading this team with Music Director Steven Fox, as we work to deepen and widen the impact of our music making. It is an honor to be welcomed to this incredible organization, and I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm to advance our mission.” 

Moores is an accomplished, effective and highly regarded leader in the performing arts, and she brings a depth of experience to CCS.  Her skill in fundraising and finance was honed during her 12-year tenure at The Washington Chorus where she served most recently as Deputy Director. Earlier in her career, Moores held positions in operations, marketing and development with The Orchestra of the Americas Group and the Youth Orchestras of Prince William. Also, she regularly performs with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra as a trombonist.  

“After a deliberate and thoughtful search for our next administrative leader, I am delighted to welcome Emma Moores to the CCS family,” said Jeremy Gosbee, who led the search committee and was recently elected president of the CCS board of trustees. “Emma’s proven skills and talents in fundraising and arts leadership allow her to hit all the right notes with us, and her broad mix of experiences prepared her to effectively step into the executive director role.”  

Gosbee added, “I am immensely grateful to Catherine Ort-Mabry for serving as our interim executive director while we conducted this search. Her extensive nonprofit leadership experience and communications acumen were invaluable as we worked toward continued growth and success for one of our nation’s leading symphonic choruses.” 

ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL CHORAL SOCIETY

As Washington, DC’s longest standing symphonic chorus, the GRAMMY-nominated Cathedral Choral Society sets the standard for vibrant, engaging concerts in the nation’s capital. Each season, CCS presents mainstage concerts at its home, Washington National Cathedral, inviting concertgoers on exciting musical journeys that reflect the rich diversity of musical traditions in our local community and throughout our nation. The aims of the chorus are to invite more people into the art of choral singing, elevate emerging voices, and steward the art for future generations. 

Since its inaugural performance of Verdi’s Requiem in 1942 at the outset of the Second World War, CCS has performed in times of national celebration and in times of mourning. The chorus has performed with some of the most extraordinary musicians of the last century, including Robert Shaw, Marin Alsop, Leonard Slatkin, Dominick Argento, John Rutter, Dave Brubeck, J’nai Bridges, and more. In collaboration with New York’s Clarion Music and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, CCS was nominated for a 2021 GRAMMY Award for its recording of Alexander Kastalsky’s Requiem for Fallen Brothers.  

CCS has embarked on numerous other collaborations, often with today’s finest performing ensembles. These have included the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Ballet, the Washington Bach Consort, Kansas City Chorale, Washington Ballet, and more. A multi-year collaboration with the Heritage Signature Chorale, called I, Too, Sing America, has resulted in performances and documentary videos – available on CCS’s YouTube channel – and will culminate in a concert of new commissions from African American composers in 2026. CCS is heavily invested in fostering emerging voices by regularly commissioning up-and-coming composers and featuring outstanding young soloists. 

CCS was founded by the Cathedral’s music director Paul Callaway in 1941, just days before the United States entered World War II. Since that time, only two other music directors have led the chorus: J. Reilly Lewis from 1985 to 2016, and, since 2018, Steven Fox. 

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