Donor Spotlight: Ellie Elkinton

Ellie ElkintonLeadership comes naturally to this lifelong choral singer, who supports her home chorus as well as Chorus America.

For Ellie Elkinton, choral singing has always been a part of who she is. “It’s hard to imagine life without choral singing," she says. "It’s deep in my soul.” A lifelong alto, Ellie sings with Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and currently serves as chairman of the board of directors.

Ellie’s love of choral singing began early in childhood, nurtured by excellent school music programs in the Cincinnati area. As a young adult in Philadelphia, she sang with Singing City, where she met her husband, Tom, on a bus with the choir heading to New York City to perform Mahler’s Second Symphony with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Both she and Tom have sung with Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia for 20 years, and Ellie has been chairing the board for the past seven years.

"I’m increasingly picky about where I spend my time and which organizations I support. I appreciate Chorus America because it is well-run and true to its mission.”

With artistic director Alan Harler, Ellie has been working hard to build Mendelssohn Club’s board and its capacity as an organization. To help her navigate her important leadership role, Ellie has turned to Chorus America. “I have found the professional network available to me through Chorus America to be particularly helpful," she says. "The Conference is run so professionally yet is warm and welcoming and has something for everyone involved with a chorus. I’ve attended five Annual Conferences so far.”

In addition to her support for Mendelssohn Club, Ellie makes an annual gift to support Chorus America. “As someone who has had lots of administrative and board experience, I’m increasingly picky about where I spend my time and which organizations I support. I appreciate Chorus America because it is well-run and true to its mission.”