Driven By Passion: The Leadership and Legacy That is the Sacramento Choral Society

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What does it take to build something that lasts 30 years?

In this episode, I sit down with Donald Kendrick, founder and artistic force behind the Sacramento Choral Society, to reflect on three decades of music, leadership, and cultural impact in our region.

Founded in 1996, the Sacramento Choral Society has presented more than 180 performances, toured internationally, recorded professionally mastered albums, and — in a model almost unheard of nationally — built a chorus that owns and sustains its own professional symphony orchestra.

Let that sink in.

In most cities, orchestras run the chorus. In Sacramento, it’s the other way around.

This conversation is about far more than music. It’s about passion. Volunteerism. Culture. Succession. And what it means to build something that belongs to a community.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🎶 How a volunteer chorus became a nationally recognized cultural force
🎶 Why the Sacramento Choral Society owns its professional union orchestra
🎶 International tours — from Carnegie Hall to China
🎶 Raising over $3 million to sustain world-class performances
🎶 The culture of love and passion that defines the organization
🎶 What succession planning looks like after 30 years of visionary leadership
🎶 What the next conductor must bring to carry the legacy forward

A Unique Model of Excellence

Under Donald Kendrick and Executive Director James McCormick, the organization has:

• Presented 180+ classical performances
• Performed in Carnegie Hall multiple times
• Toured Germany, France, Slovenia, China, Canada, and more
• Built a $550,000 annual operating budget
• Created a growing endowment through the Sacramento Region Community Foundation
• Engaged hundreds of volunteers and nearly 900 alumni

And perhaps most importantly — they’ve created a culture.

A culture of music.
A culture of healing.
A culture driven not by obligation, but by love.

Why This Moment Matters

As the organization approaches its 30th anniversary, it is also entering a thoughtful succession planning process.

For the first time, the question is being asked:
What happens when the founders step away?

This episode is both a celebration and a call to awareness.

The Sacramento Choral Society is a cultural gem — one that deserves long-term sustainability and visionary leadership for the next generation.

Learn More

Visit: https://sacramentochoral.org

Chapter Summaries

00:00 Welcome & 30-Year Milestone
03:00 What Makes the Choral Society Unique
07:45 Owning a Professional Symphony Orchestra
13:30 International Tours & Carnegie Hall
19:00 Community Collaborations
24:00 Funding & Sustainability
29:00 Succession Planning & The Future
33:30 The Next Conductor’s Vision
39:00 Passion, Purpose & Personal Renewal
44:00 Protecting the Legacy

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.