Who We Are — Orlando Gay Chos

gay and lesbian association of choruses

The Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos, better known as GALA Chos, is an umbrella anizatn which reprents and supports most of the gay and lbian‐affiliated choral ensembl the Uned Stat and abroad. Currently, more than 150 muny choirs the Uned Stat and Canada are members of GALA (pronounced “gay‐la”). The choirs, which are loted big ci and small towns across the ntent, llectively clu tens of thoands of sgers. Together wh their dienc, GALA choirs volve lns of people thoands of performanc every year. Although the majory of the choirs are all‐male, which an overwhelmg percentage of the sgers self‐intify as gay, GALA Chos also clus women's groups, which typilly about fifty percent of the choristers are lbians, and mixed groups of men and women, aga which most of the sgers self‐intify as GLBT. The largt of the choirs clu hundreds of choristers, are led by artistic directors wh doctorat mic, and succsfully solic lns of dollars dividual and rporate donatns. They perform for large dienc important venu across the untry, cludg at the 2009 guratn of Print Barack Obama. GALA ensembl—most often lled “chos”—intify themselv as part of a gay and lbian choral movement. The movement arose the mid‐1970s, when the first lbian femist chos, the Anna Csis Women's Choir, was formed Philalphia. Shortly thereafter, the San Francis Gay Men's Chos was found. Wh s first , the movement sparked the creatn of dozens of chos (GALA Chos, “History”). Participatn the movement ntu to grow; GALA's quadrennial Ftival, held Denver, Colorado July 2012, attracted more than six thoand atten. Dpe their signifince Amerin life durg the past four s, GALA chos have been the subject of remarkably few scholarly studi. Pl Attello's semal book chapter, published 1994, was based on survey data llected om the members of Ameri's five largt gay male chos. In his chapter, Attello outled several avenu for future rearch on gay and lbian chos, among them, a need to exame the songs created and performed by the groups (324). Sce then, two scholar‐practners have produced dissertatns which foc on one specific aspect of the repertoire, the missned works wrten—ually by gay and lbian posers—for one or more GALA ensembl (Coyle, Signifint Male Voice Repertory; Mensel). Such missned piec do ed form an important part of the repertoire

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SGG PROUD: LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANS CHOS

Based New York Cy, the Stonewall Chorale is the natn's first gay and lbian chos. * gay and lesbian association of choruses *

The New Mexi Gay Men’s Chos is a proud member of and was one of the first chos to bee a member of the Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos, Inc. The San Francis Gay Men's Chos toured the untry for the first time the summer of 1981, at the same time as the HIV/AIDS crisis was beg more prevalent.

1981 Natnal Tour Giv Life to LGBT chos across USThe San Francis Gay Men's Chos lighted dienc ne ci durg a natnal tour 1981: Dallas, Mneapolis, Lln (Nebraska), Detro, New York, Boston, Washgton, D.

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH’S ROLE RSIA’S ANTI-GAY LAWS

The first chos to e the word gay s name was the San Francis Gay Men's Chos, born immediately followg the assassatn of gay uncilman Harvey Milk durg a ndlelight vigil on the steps of Cy Hall 1978. LGBT chos beme important spac where people uld be mil t * gay and lesbian association of choruses *

Challeng Faced by the LGBT Choral MovementThroughout s history, the San Francis Gay Men's Chos has been a strong voice for social jtice.

Standg proudly solidary and support for all that Milk had acplished and, ultimately, given his life for, the Chos gathered on the steps of Cy Hall, surround by members of the gay the Chos' subsequent natnal tour, they faced even greater challeng, one of the most signifint begs that occurred durg the AIDS crisis. Dpe the challeng, beg together elimated much of the isolatn they had felt as gay liv ntue to be polil acts of ristance as LGBTQ+ people bee we live a world that stggl to embrace and support for who we are. Furthermore, bee so few people stood up for gay men then, gay chos ntributed signifintly to their velopment of gay pri, a sense of muny, and uny wh others.

Found the early 1980s wh jt 14 LGBTQ+ ensembl, GALA (Gay and Lbian Associatn) Chos provis admistrative support, workg opportuni, discsn groups, annual learship symposiums, a rource library, and vatns to their signature quadrennial ftival. Lbian Gay Chos of San Francis The Lbian Gay Chros of San Francis, recently renamed the Queer Chos of San Francis, was found 1980 by Jon Reed Sims.

MOSW GAY CISE CLUBS

The Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos (GALA Chos) is an ternatnal associatn of LGBT chos found 1982. In s gural performance 14 chos performed together September 1982 San Francis as part of the first Gay Gam. It aims to foster artistic and anizatnal * gay and lesbian association of choruses *

Portland Lbian Choir The Portland Lbian Choir was found 36 years ago, Gay Men's Chos The At Gay Men’s Chos was found 34 years ago, 1989, by sixteen Gay Men's Chos The Boston Gay Men's Chos was found 1982, 40 years ago, and currently has over 300 members. Columb Gay Men's Chos The Columb Gay Men’s Chos broke ground 1990, 32 years ago, wh founrs Doug Althser, Kev Gary, Bob Germa, Phil Mart, and Jack Wisniewski. Heartland Men's Chos The Heartland Men's Chos, found 1986, 36 years ago, currently featur more than 120 sgg Men's Chos of Los Angel Harold Kjellberg found the Gay Men's Chos of Los Angel 1979, 43 years ago, wh 99 members.

Midlands Men's Chos: The Gay Men's Chos of Columbia (South Carola)New Hampshire Gay Men's ChosThe New Hampshire Gay Men's Chos began wh 26 members 1998, 24 years ago, and was found by Richard Bojko, David R. New Orleans Gay Men's Chos The New Orleans Gay Men’s Chos was found 1982 by Jerry York Cy Gay Men's Chos Ed Weaver found the New York Cy Gay Men's Chos 1979 wh 80 origal members. Oakland Gay Men's Chos Found by Dick Kramer 1999, 21 years ago, and currently has over 60 Gay Men’s Chos Bob Moore found the Denver Gay Men's Chos 1982, 41 years ago.

Dr. Gerald Gurss (he/him), Artistic Director Dr. Gerald Gurss is Artistic Director of TCGMC. Gerald joed at the start of our 38th season wh over 10 years of experience wh GALA Chos (Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos). He was most recently Artistic Director of One Voice Chos & Sotto Voce Chamber Ensemble * gay and lesbian association of choruses *

Philalphia Gay Men's Chos Gerald Davis found the Philalphia Gay Men's Chos 1981, and membership fluctuated om 20 to 60 members throughout the 80s and 90s. The chos began wh 20 sgers and today has over 125 Diego Men's Chos A group of 45 men nvened San Diego for their first weekly rehearsal 1985, followg a benef ncert by The Gay Men's Chos of Los Angel.

* gay and lesbian association of choruses *

Gay Men's Chos of San Diego A group of eleven San Diego Men's Chos members, formed the Gay Men's Chos 1992 to sg a self-intified "gay chos. San Francis Gay Men's ChosFound 1978 by Jon Reed Sims, the San Francis Gay Men's Chos has grown om nearly 115 members prent at the first ncert to more than 300 members today.

In 1983 at Lln Center, the Chorale opened the first natnal ftival anized and sponsored by GALA (the Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos), now an ternatnal anizatn wh more than 150 member chos. LIVING OUR MISSIONAs part of the Central Florida Arts Communy, the Orlando Gay Chos often performs at Central Florida pri events, sportg events, and var other muny engagements. The Orlando Gay Chos has performed many GALA (Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos) Ftivals, most memorably durg the 2016 Denver ftival, shortly after the Pulse tragedy.

Found 1982 by fourteen chos, GALA Chos has bee the leadg ternatnal associatn of gay, lbian, bisexual and transgenr missn of GALA Chos is spirg and strengtheng member chos to change their worlds through song. It engag advocy; provis grants for the missng of new choral works; facilat workg wh the Associatn; and serve as a rource center for chos and dividual Associat om around the Chos supports more than 190 chos, reprentg 7500+ performers sgg to dienc totalg more than one ln Orlando Gay Chos is a member of the One Orlando Alliance, the Pri Chamber, and the Edyth Bh Instute.

Found sprg, 2012, by foundg print Bl Copas, and foundg artistic director Christopher Hambl, the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chos held their first performance at KnoxPri wh fifteen members. The followg year KGMC joed the Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos (GALA), the natnal parent anizatn of LGBTQIA+ Chos, and received official 501(c)(3) nonprof stat. We envisn a world ee of discrimatn which all persons are empowered to live thentic liv te to their inti, whout fear." name="scriptn * gay and lesbian association of choruses *

LicensThe Orlando Gay Chos is licensed by ASCAP, the Amerin Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and by BMI, Broadst Mic, Inc., anizatns which llect license fe on behalf of songwrers, posers and mic publishers and distribut them as royalti to those members whose works have been unthorized d rerdg, vio rerdg or still photography of OGC performanc is strictly prohibed.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY AND LESBIAN ASSOCIATION OF CHORUSES

Summary of Event</tle><p>Durg the urse of the early and mid-1970’s, many largely lbian-intified femist chos veloped around the Uned Stat, followed by gay-intified men’s chos and lbian and gay mixed-genr chos the late 1970’s. The “grandmother” chos, Anna Csis, which is still existence, formed Philalphia 1975. It was followed by Callpe Mneapolis and the Los Angel Communy Women’s Chos 1976. The Stonewall Chorale New York, which began December of 1977 as the Gotham Male Chos, changed s name when women joed 1979. Both Artemis Sgers Chigo and the San Francis Gay Men’s Chos formed 1978, followed 1979 by Wdy Cy Gay Chos, Gay Men’s Chos of Los Angel, Seattle Men’s Chos, and the Montrose Sgers, which later beme the Gay Men’s Chos of Hoton.<x-term> <primary>[kw]GALA Chos Is Formed (1981-1982)</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>[kw]Chos Is Formed, GALA (1981-1982)</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>GALA Chos</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>Mic;choral</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>Choral movement</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>Arts;performg</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>[c]Arts;1981-1982: GALA Chos Is Formed[1440]</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>[c]Organizatns and stutns;1981-1982: GALA Chos Is Formed[1440]</primary></x-term> <x-term role=personag><primary>Davidson, Jay</primary></x-term> <x-term role=personag><primary>Miller, Gary</primary></x-term></p><fig fig-type=athetic posn=float><p>Wt Coast Sgers, based Los Angel, California, is the third olst lbian and gay mixed-genr chos the Uned Stat. It was formed 1983.<p></p><permissns><pyright-statement>(Courty, Wt Coast Sgers)</pyright-statement></permissns></fig><p>Even though the chos veloped lolly, like so many other muny chos they looked to larger anizatns for support. They found ltle tert their ncerns, however, om nservative anizatns such as the Amerin Choral Directors Associatn. In the tert of velopg their own support works, directors, managers, and members om lbian and gay chos and bands across the untry veloped newsletters, shared mic ias, and sometim even sent each other flowers for openg nights. In some of the larger ci, lbian and gay performg arts umbrella anizatns, such as San Francis’s Goln Gate Performg Arts and Chigo’s Toddl’ Town Performg Arts, had veloped to be rourc for chos, bands, and theater groups.<p><span id=ezoic-pub-ad-placeholr-121 class=ezoic-adpicker-ad></span>In early 1981, ncurrent wh the velopment of the femist Sister Sgers Network,<x-term> <primary>Sister Sgers Network</primary></x-term> members of the Wdy Cy Gay Chos ved directors and managers of gay and lbian chos and bands to Chigo for a weekend to exchange ias about formg an anizatn at the natnal level. Participants om twelve chos met Chigo May, 1981, the first meetg which the ia for the associatn was discsed. The Gay and Lbian Associatn of Performg Arts Groups was formed out of this meetg, beg the Gay and Lbian Associatn of Chos (GALA) 1982.<p>The group immediately set several goals, cludg, one, to produce a large choral ftival for September, 1983, New York Cy, a ftival eventually named Come Out And Sg Together (COAST). Two, preparatn for the larger ftival, the group produced a smaller regnal ftival San Francis the summer of 1982, lled the Wt Coast Choral Ftival, held njunctn wh the first-planned Gay Gam. Three, the group planned another meetg of the managers and directors San Francis durg the 1982 Wt Coast Choral Ftival.<p>For this 1982 meetg San Francis, bands and other performg arts groups were aga ved, but for the send time only chos showed up. Out of this meetg me three more cisns. The group agreed to change s name om GALA Performg Arts to GALA Chos; was to seek rporatn as a tax-exempt anizatn based California; and cid to meet once aga New York, after the COAST Ftival, to elect s first board of directors.<p>The Stonewall Chorale opened the first natnal GALA ftival 1983 at the Lln Center for the Performg Arts Manhattan. A total of fourteen chos performed for each other an atmosphere of mutual support, a qualy that sets GALA choral ftivals apart om others, which are largely foced on petn. This approach, which emphasiz affirmatn, rpect, support, and workg over judgment, has created, the words of a GALA foundg member, Dennis Coleman, “a tremendo synergy” that has played a role the anizatn’s rapid and nsistent growth. The LGBT choral movement remas, arguably, one of the largt ponents of the LGBT movement the world.<p>GALA sponsored ftivals every three years until 1992, when the terval between ftivals was changed to four years; learship nferenc and regnal ftival would be held between ftivals. From the origal 14 chos that sang the first ftival, the GALA ftival 2004 Montreal had 163 chos and 5,800 registered legat om around the world, but mostly om North Ameri. The week-long ftival clud ternatnal premiere performanc of youth and transgenr chos and stand-up edy wh Lily Toml.</sec><sec sec-type=bodytext xed=te><tle>Signifince</tle><p>GALA’s member chos, which now number more than two hundred, wh more than ten thoand sgers, ntu to support artistic and anizatnal velopment of gay, lbian, bisexual, and transgenr chos, which are llectively changg the face of choral mic through missng and performg new works. Through origal missns of new choral works, new arrangements of everythg om classil to popular tun, and by performg some songs wh a twist—some would argue, “queerg” them—the LGBT choral movement has veloped a repertoire of popular “anthems” that clu “We Are Everywhere,” “Everythg Possible,” and “Love Worth Fightg For.”<p>Acrdg to GALA’s Web se, “more than 600,000 dividuals purchase tickets to one or more member ncerts per year and the bed dienc of member chos through muny appearanc and televisn and rad broadsts exceeds 5,000,000 dividuals. Among the televisn works that have aired performanc of GALA Chos members are ABC, BBC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and PBS.”<p>GALA’s member chos have shared the stage wh the lik of Maya Angelou, Natalie Cole, Michael Fienste, Jerry Hadley, Marilyn Horne, Bobby McFerr, Bette Midler, Liza Melli, Mark Morris, Holly Near, Bernatte Peters, Roberta Peters, Mary Redhoe, Diane Schuur, and Freri von Sta, and have performed for prints, queens, and other lears of state at major natnal events and major venu, cludg the Kennedy Center Washgton, D.C., Carnegie Hall New York Cy, Disney Concert Hall Los Angel, Boston Symphony Hall, and symphony halls San Francis, Seattle, Dallas, and Denver.<p>By engagg a tradnally nservative art form, LGBT chos produce a social prence that rists the stereotyp of LGBT people as solely antisocial, viant, or hypersexualized. The 2008 GALA ftival is planned for Miami, Florida.<x-term> <primary>GALA Chos</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>Mic;choral</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>Choral movement</primary></x-term> <x-term><primary>Arts;performg</primary></x-term> <span id=ezoic-pub-ad-placeholr-130 class=ezoic-adpicker-ad></span></sec><span class="ezoic-tosert-vio ezoic-mid_ntent"><div id=ez-vio-wrap-qK0sAHXJBcu class=ez-vio-wrap style=align-self:stretch;marg-top:0!important;marg-bottom:0!important><div style=max-width:640px class=ez-vio-center><div id=floatg-placeholr-qK0sAHXJBcu class=floatg-placeholr style=display:none><div id=floatg-placeholr-sizer-qK0sAHXJBcu class=floatg-placeholr-sizer></div></div><div id=ez-vio-ntaer-qK0sAHXJBcu class="ez-vio-ntaer ez-float-right" style=flex-wrap:wrap><div class=ez-vio-ez-stuck-bar id=ez-vio-ez-stuck-bar><div class=ez-vio-ez-stuck-tle id=ez-vio-stuck-tle-qK0sAHXJBcu>16 Laws of Psychologil Power (Ins...</div><div class="ez-vio-ez-stuck-close vjs-in-ncel" id=ez-vio-ez-stuck-close onclick="document.getElementById('ezmobfooter')'none';"><span class=vjs-in-placeholr></span></div></div><vio id=ez-vio-qK0sAHXJBcu class="vio-js vjs-16-9 ez-vid-placeholr" ntrols preload=metadata><p class=vjs-no-js>Please enable JavaScript</p></vio><div class=ez-vid-preview id=ez-vid-preview-qK0sAHXJBcu></div><div id=lds-rg-qK0sAHXJBcu class=lds-rg><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div id=ez-vio-lks-qK0sAHXJBcu style=posn:absolute></div></div><a id=ez-vio-lk-qK0sAHXJBcu class=ez-vio-lk href=" target=_self>16 Laws of Psychologil Power (Inspired by Robert Greene)</a></div></div></span><sec sec-type=bodytext xed=te><tle>Further Readg.

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