Kim Vaughn Accepts Appointment as Interim Musical Director of the San Diego Chorus

As the San Diego Chorus enters an important season of transition, the organization is proud to welcome Kim Vaughn as Interim Musical Director, providing experienced leadership, artistic continuity, and a steady hand as the chorus conducts a search for their next long-term musical director.
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The appointment follows a significant milestone for Vaughn, who recently celebrated 50 years of membership with Sweet Adelines International - a legacy defined by excellence, mentorship, and a deep love for the art of four-part a cappella harmony. Now, she steps once again to the front of the room she knows so well.

​"It’s been more than ten years since I’ve stood before this chorus as musical director,”  Vaughn says. “It feels wonderful to be back home.”

A Leader with Deep Roots
Vaughn previously served as musical director of the San Diego Chorus from 1985 to 2015, guiding the ensemble through nearly three decades of artistic growth and competitive success. Under her leadership, the chorus earned its second International Championship in 2001, building on its earlier International title from 1975, when Vaughn herself sang lead.

​Her influence extends far beyond the podium. Vaughn is a three-time International Quartet Champion and Queen of Harmony, a Certified Sound Judge, a Master Sweet Adelines International Faculty member, and a Region 21 Hall of Fame inductee. In 2014, she received the Sweet Adelines International Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her extraordinary impact on singers, directors, and choruses around the world.

Confidence and Continuity in a Season of Transition
Vaughn’s approach in this vital interim role is to fine-tune chorus Semi-Finals and Finals packages with reinvigorated artistry, competitive clarity, and performance freedom, sharpening musical intent while preserving the ensemble’s authentic voice. Her return brings focus and momentum during a season of transition, ensuring the chorus enters each rehearsal and performance with purpose, confidence, and a clear competitive trajectory.

Kim’s leadership provides confidence and continuity at a pivotal moment for the organization. Her deep understanding of the chorus’s culture, the Sweet Adelines community, and the international competitive landscape allows singers to concentrate on execution, consistency, and growth while the search for the next musical director moves forward in parallel.

Preparing for the Road Ahead
The timing of Vaughn’s appointment aligns with an ambitious and exciting performance calendar. The San Diego Chorus is already preparing for the Golden West Region 21 Chorus Competition this April in Phoenix, a key milestone in the competitive season.
Looking further ahead, the chorus will take the International stage in late October, appearing as Competitor #6 at the SAI Chorus Competition in Columbus, Ohio.

With Vaughn at the helm, singers are focusing on musical clarity, confidence, and joy - all hallmarks of her leadership style and a defining thread throughout her five decades of service.

A Homecoming in Harmony
For Vaughn, this interim role is both professional and deeply personal. After 50 years shaped by Sweet Adelines, and by the San Diego Chorus in particular, her return to the director’s podium feels like a natural extension of a lifelong commitment to the art form and its people.

As the chorus looks toward the future, this season represents a bridge: honoring a rich legacy while creating space for what comes next. With Kim Vaughn leading the way, that bridge is grounded in experience, trust, and harmony.

The San Diego Chorus looks forward to singing into this next chapter, together.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole Knox sings with Nick of Time A Cappella Quartet and is a member of the San Diego Chorus, where she was named the 2023 Sweet Adeline of the Year. A fractional Chief Marketing Officer, she supports organizations and singers by sharing her expertise in brand, marketing, and communications.

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ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO CHORUS
Founded in 1951, the San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International performs award-winning four-part barbershop harmony. A two-time International Chorus Champion, the nonprofit performing arts organization is dedicated to education, entertainment, and competition, and welcomes women and non-binary treble singers committed to musical excellence and growth.

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ABOUT SWEET ADELINES INTERNATIONAL
​Sweet Adelines International is a global nonprofit music education organization founded in 1945 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One of the world’s largest singing organizations for women, Sweet Adelines International includes more than 25,000 members, 1,200 quartets, and 600 choruses across multiple countries worldwide.