Cathedral Choral Society Selects Catherine Ort-Mabry as Interim Executive Director October 21, 2024

October 21, 2024 

Washington, D.C. – Sarah Holmes, president of the Cathedral Choral Society (CCS) board of trustees, announced today that Catherine Ort-Mabry, CAE, a trusted executive and board advisor with extensive nonprofit communications and engagement expertise, will serve as CCS’s interim executive director beginning October 28th. 

Ms. Ort-Mabry is a compelling and effective leader with deep experience in helping large-scale nonprofit membership-based organizations define and deliver member value. She recently served as chief marketing and communications officer for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences. During her tenure at ASM, Ort-Mabry developed programs that exceeded goals in customer satisfaction, membership recruitment and retention, media exposure, and digital reach. Ms. Ort-Mabry is also Chief Executive Officer of C O M Solutions, a consulting firm that partners with purpose-driven organizations to meet their strategic priorities by activating their key stakeholders. In addition to her professional expertise, she has served as a member of the CCS soprano section for more than 25 years.  

Ort-Mabry will provide leadership and support to the CCS team while the organization begins a national search for its next executive director. Her efforts will focus on staff and operational leadership, board governance, and revenue enhancement through marketing and fundraising oversight. 

“The Cathedral Choral Society is strong and thriving thanks to the powerful combination of excellent leadership, exceptional artistic vision and exemplary performances, and I am honored to be able to be part of its continuing success,” Ort-Mabry said. “It’s a true delight to sing with this amazing group of artists, and now I’ll be able to contribute both on stage and behind the scenes.” 

Ms. Holmes stated, “I am delighted that Ms. Ort-Mabry has agreed to serve as our interim executive director. She brings a wealth of experience in non-profit work and has a decades-long devotion to the Cathedral Choral Society.” 

CCS’s music director Steven Fox noted, “Catherine’s experience and long history with CCS is a perfect fit for our goals and vision this season. It is a year full of collaborations, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chanticleer, and a host of extraordinary soloists. We’re excited to welcome Catherine to CCS as we begin this special season. We know she will lead us to great heights.” 

Ort-Mabry’s selection follows the departure of Christopher Eanes, CCS’s executive director since 2019, who announced his departure in September to assume the role of president and CEO of Chorus America, the national advocacy and membership organization for choruses throughout North America. The CCS board of trustees has formed a search committee to guide the recruitment and hiring of its next executive director. Additional information about the search process will be shared in the coming weeks.