Pianist, innovator, coach, arts administrator, and educator Carla McElhaney has been named Executive Director of Chorus Austin, the non-profit community-based organization dedicated to bringing great choral works to Austin and the Central Texas area.

McElhaney will begin in her position ahead of the launch of Chorus Austin’s 62nd season on August 1, 2026.

She is known throughout Austin as the co-founder and Executive/Artistic Director of the Austin-based collective Revel, where she produced and performed in over a hundred concerts while managing operations and securing funding for twelve concert seasons, six summer festivals, and three recording projects.

Regarding her new position, McElhaney said, “I am thrilled to embark on this exciting new chapter with this stellar organization. As someone who has been steeped in choral music since middle school, focused on community arts development for the better part of my career, and a member of the Chorus Austin family as a guest pianist since Ryan Heller came on board, it feels very much like coming home.’

In a statement, Chorus Austin’s Artistic Director and Conductor, Ryan Heller said, “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Carla McElhaney as Chorus Austin’s new Executive Director. Carla brings an extraordinary combination of leadership, vision, and passion for the arts, and I know she will play an integral role in shaping the future of our organization and deepening and strengthening our ties to the community. Beyond that, our connection as friends and long-time collaborators only serves to deepen the impact I know Carla is going to have as we vision into the future together to create more meaningful experiences for our community.”

Chorus Austin also noted that its former Assistant Student Conductor, Lilly Boessen, will become Assistant Conductor this season. Boessen recently graduated with her Master’s in Choral Conducting from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, and completed a semester teaching at her alma mater of Austin College in Sherman, TX, as a visiting professor.