Christina Deaton DeMarea

Christina Deaton DeMarea is currently chief operating officer of Chicago Children’s Choir, the nation’s largest choral music education organization which serves nearly 5,000 youth each year in all 57 zip codes of Chicago. From 1997-2007, Christina served as executive director of Chicago Children’s Choir before pursuing other professional and personal endeavors. During that time she worked with artistic director Josephine Lee to expand and set new standards of artistic excellence across the organization’s programs and increased organizational capacity through staff development, board development and income.
 
Christina guided the organization through three successful strategic plans; opened multiple programs in under-served areas that continue to thrive today; led numerous national and international tours; directed successful divestures of a charter school and unprofitable Ben & Jerry’s retail shop to cease negative flow of funds; launched its first $5 million fundraising campaign and established the first cash reserve in the organization’s history.
 
Prior to her return to Chicago Children’s Choir, Christina served as an Advisor to Wynnchurch Capital, a private equity firm, providing direction and support in the areas of marketing, investor relations, and outreach.
 
In addition to numerous public speaking appearances in her executive director roles, Christina has had professional speaking engagements at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business and the Non-profit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay. Christina has served on Chicago’s City Arts Panel, as a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and as president of the Musician’s Club of Women of Chicago.
 
Christina holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University’s School of Music and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from University of Missouri. She received leadership training from Kellogg’s Executive Training for Non-Profit Management.