Katherine Chan, Artistic Director
Australian conductor Dr. Katherine Chan joined BCE as Artistic Director in Fall 2022. Known for her energy and enthusiasm on the podium. As Director of Choral Activities and Associate Teaching Professor of Music at Northeastern University, Chan conducts the Northeastern University Choral Society (Chorus), Chamber Singers, Mosaic Advance Treble Ensemble, and teaches courses in conducting, music theory, and piano. A sought-after choral clinician, Chan also serves as the R & R Collegiate Chair for ACDA Eastern Division.
Lila Searls, Administrator
Lila Searls (she/her) is an Arts Administrator and Woodwind Instrumentalist based in the Boston area. In addition to being BCE's Administrator, Lila is the Development Coordinator at The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, MA. Prior to her current positions, she worked in operations and development roles at various arts nonprofits in the greater Boston area; Dublin, Ireland; Brunswick, Maine; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Lila graduated with an MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin. Her undergraduate education included a BA in Sociology and a BM in Saxophone Performance through the Tufts University / New England Conservatory dual enrollment program. In her free time, Lila enjoys exploring the beautiful New England outdoors, knitting, and experimenting with gluten free recipes.
BCE Board Members, 2024-2025
Vardit Samuels, Co-President
Vardit Samuels works in the Judaica Division of Harvard Library. She arrived in the Boston area in 2006 and auditioned for BCE before she had a job lined up (priorities!). She is fascinated by linguistics, believes ice cream is a year-round food, and has memorized far too many musical theater lyrics.
Danny Green, Co-President
Danny Green (he/him/his) has been a member of BCE since 2011 and is excited to be re-joining the Board after a brief hiatus. Outside of BCE, Danny is an attorney and serves as the Executive Secretary of the Boston Licensing Board. He enjoys traveling, hiking in the White Mountains, a good trivia night, and spending time with his three nieces and nephew.
Chris Haimendorf, Treasurer
Sam Maurer, Clerk
Originally from Pennsylvania, Sam Maurer went to college in Massachusetts and recently moved back after 15 years in San Francisco, where he sang with the International Orange Chorale. He is a chemical engineer and his dog's name is Wilco.
Sara DiFiore, Fundraising Co-Chair
Sara DiFiore is a highly motivated people person who landed in Boston in 2018 to continue her work in Technology Operations. She currently manages the Boston chapter of The Society of Information Management and carries with her a decades-long passion for music and the arts. Outside of work, Sara spends much of her time reading, writing, cooking, and playing with her 8 month old puppy. She is thrilled to be joining the Boston Chorale Ensemble's Board of Directors as Fundraising Team Lead!
Jillian McGuire, Marketing Co-Chair
Jillian McGuire, a Marketing professional at a Boston biotech company, excels in creative direction, design, brand voice + tone, and social media marketing. She's not just about work (though she loves what she does)—her creative passions extend to choral singing, teaching cycling class rhythm rides, and interior design.
Brian Burke, Marketing Co-Chair
Brian is an ardent chorister and tech professional, blending together a broad knowledge of digital media, acoustics, and choral music. In his spare time, he builds e-bikes and volunteers with the elderly.
Susannah Hatch, Member-at-Large
A long-time member of BCE, Susannah Hatch has been singing with the group since 2014. By day, she works in clean energy policy. She loves going on outdoor adventures with her dog Pepper and can’t wait for the next opportunity to get into the woods.
Jeremy Koo, Member-at-Large
Jeremy Koo auditioned for BCE two days after moving to Boston in 2014 without a job and has been here ever since. When not singing with BCE or performing musical theater, he works to advance state and local efforts to address climate change as the Assistant Director of the Clean Energy Department at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Jeremy is a decent cook, an enthusiastic (though barely average) hiker and volleyball player, and a terrible dancer.
Cassandra (CJ) Blackthorn, Member-at-Large
Cassandra (CJ) Blackthorn (she/her) is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit fundraising professional passionate about building access and opportunity within the arts.
Kimi MacDonald, Member-at-Large
Kim Macdonald (she/her) has served on the board of Boston Choral Ensemble since 2023. She is currently a director of marketing and communications and a lecturer at Boston University, and previously worked in the financial industry as a vice president of creative services. Kim is a dedicated choral singer and has performed with the Marsh Chapel Choir for over 20 years, including singing backup for the Rolling Stones in 2013. She is passionate about BCE's mission of stretching the boundaries of compelling choral music, and is delighted to dedicate her gifts and professional experience to BCE's community. In her free time, she enjoys painting, exercising, historical documentaries, and spending time with her husband and two children.
Xiao Shi, Member-at-Large
Aside from singing, Xiao works as a software engineer and consults on acoustics and voice pedagogy research. Ever since he heard BCE perform for the first time in the Hayden Planetarium in 2017, his fondness of the group has only increased and he gradually became more involved with BCE. Xiao's favorite pastime is playing with his friends' dogs.