Lou Spisto to Conclude Extraordinary Eight-Year Tenure as Executive Director & Producer of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles in 2027
Left: GMCLA Gala performer Juan Pablo Di Pace and Lou Spisto. Photo by Gregory Zabilski; Center: GMCLA Gala Host Melvin Robert with Lou Spisto. Photo by Gregory Zabilski; GMCLA's "Hooray for Holidays" Guest Artist Wayne Brady and Lou Spisto. Photo courtesy of Lou Spisto.
Lou Spisto to Conclude Extraordinary Eight-Year Tenure
as Executive Director & Producer of the
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles in 2027
Following a historic organizational turnaround,
significant financial growth, and a landmark international tour,
Spisto remains involved through Season 48
to ensure a seamless leadership succession
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 30, 2026) – Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) announced today that Executive Director & Producer Lou Spisto will conclude his exceptional eight-year tenure on January 31, 2027, following a period of transformative leadership that has left the organization on strong financial and organizational footing. Spisto will transition into a consulting and advisory role through July 31, 2027, ensuring a seamless passing of the torch and providing steady guidance through the remainder of GMCLA’s 48th season.
Spisto joined GMCLA in February 2019 at the request of its Board of Directors, stepping in just ahead of the organization’s milestone 40th anniversary at a time when GMCLA was facing significant financial and organizational challenges. Working closely with the Board, chorus members, donors and community stakeholders, Spisto spearheaded an intensive organizational turnaround, restoring fiscal stability and establishing a sustainable foundation for the organization’s future.In the years since, GMCLA has maintained balanced operations while building significant cash reserves, growing its endowment and expanding its community and educational programs. Today, the organization has a multi-million dollar fund balance, marking a dramatic transformation from significant debt and accumulated deficit it faced when Spisto arrived in 2019.
That transformation continued despite the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought live performances to a halt and created enormous challenges for performing arts organizations throughout the country. GMCLA successfully navigated the shutdown, maintained its organizational stability and emerged from the pandemic positioned for renewed artistic and programmatic growth. Spisto secured extraordinary major multi-year grants from the Arts Recovery Fund and the Perenchio Foundation, further strengthening GMCLA’s long-term financial position.
As Executive Producer, Spisto also expanded GMCLA’s artistic ambitions and global profile, most recently conceiving and leading a highly successful European tour in August 2026. The tour included performances in London and Amsterdam during World Pride and culminated in a sold-out appearance at Amsterdam’s renowned Concertgebouw.
“Lou came to GMCLA at a moment when we needed both decisive leadership and a clear vision for the future,” said Vincent Nevills, Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Board Chair. “What he has accomplished over these eight years has been extraordinary. He helped restore the organization’s financial health while simultaneously expanding its reach, ambition and impact. GMCLA is stronger today because of his leadership, and the Board is profoundly grateful for his commitment to this organization, our singing members and the community we serve. We are equally grateful that Lou will remain with us through the coming season, helping ensure a thoughtful and seamless transition.”
For Spisto, the decision brings a deeply meaningful, full-circle chapter to a close—completing a journey from passionate patron to Board member and, ultimately, to Executive Director & Producer.“ Leading GMCLA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life,” said Lou Spisto. “I first became a fan of this remarkable organization in the 1990s, and I could never have imagined then that one day I would have the privilege of helping lead it through such an important period in its history. I am enormously proud of what we have accomplished together and deeply grateful to our Board, our chorus members, our Artistic Director and staff, our donors and audiences, and the extraordinary Los Angeles community that has supported GMCLA for nearly half a century.” Spisto continued, “This feels like the right moment for GMCLA and for me to embark on our next chapters. I’m looking forward to the upcoming months, completing this exceptional season and supporting the organization throughout the transition. I am also excited to explore projects and opportunities of my own that I’ve put aside while giving GMCLA my full attention.”
During Spisto’s tenure, GMCLA strengthened its position as one of the nation’s leading LGBTQ+ arts organizations while expanding its work onstage, in schools and throughout the community. His leadership encompassed a major financial and organizational turnaround, the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and GMCLA’s triumphant return to live performance, significant growth in financial resources and community programming, and major performances and collaborations at home and internationally.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Board of Directors will oversee the transition to the organization’s next executive leader. Spisto will remain fully engaged as Executive Director & Producer through January 31, 2027, and thereafter as consultant and advisor through July 31, 2027.
