Ring out the old. Ring in the new!December 4, 2011 The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus is making final preparations for our upcoming holiday concert at The Cathedral of St. Philip. You don’t want to miss "Bells in Boyland," a varied program featuring special guests The Atlanta Concert Ringers. Now under the direction of one of America’s leading handbell conductors, Kevin McChesney, the ACR is poised to bring a visual and aural sparkle to this year’s concerts. Also joining us will be American Baritone W. Dwight Coleman, a front-runner in Atlanta’s opera circles, and Mitch Weisiger, Organist at First United Methodist Church of Decatur. This will be only the second time AGMC has used the Cathedral’s Aeolian-Skinner organ – now with a new console – since I took the reins of AGMC in 2007.
The wonderful thing about this piece is that these traditional carols, like so many others, were developed for Anglican church choirs and were first brought to life in spaces not unlike the Cathedral of St. Philip. In that spirit, AGMC will perform Fantasia from the Quire (choir loft), mostly unseen. A work with many layers of cross-voicing, where lower voices sing above higher ones, Fantasia brings four carols to life in a stunning, ethereal web of melody and harmony. It promises to be the highlight of this year’s holiday event. We hope you are making plans now to attend one of our three performances: Friday, December 9, at 8 pm and Saturday, December 10, at 2 and 8 pm. Get your tickets by clicking on our home page. We’ll hold them for you at will call. I look forward to seeing everyone at our biggest event of the year! Happy Holidays.
Kevin Robison Artistic Director
Reasons why we sing.October 20, 2011 It's been one of those summers. You think things are going one way, then suddenly life throws a curve, and then a curve back, and all of the sudden you feel like you are on an endless slalom. The ride can be fun, but when you find yourself passing very big trees at a very fast pace, you pray you stay alive until you reach the bottom of the slope. I'm not even a skier, but I can certainly see the parallels. Life reminded me this summer that I must stay present – that I must live in the current moment and not get mired in the past or develop unfounded fear of the future. As we began to finalize our programming for season 31, it occurred to me that individual words can be touchstones to bring us back to now – particularly operative words that keep us engaged, reminding us of what is important and what is not. For me, it made sense to make a list and combine them into a word cloud that serves as a reminder of not only what the AGMC does, but most importantly why we do it. Those words are part of our season graphic (below).
We sing for these people – people who may have lost their lives in a hate crime, or took their own lives because of the hatred they felt. We also sing to celebrate victories like the repeal of DADT. There are many reasons. But most of all, we sing because speaking just isn't enough. Remembering why the AGMC has been around for three decades, I am happy to announce the 31st season. Join us!
Kevin Robison Artistic Director
GET YOUR HOLIDAY TICKETS HERE!
Finally, the chorus heads to Denver in July for the 2012 Festival of Choruses presented by GALA Choruses, International. Join us for a pre-festival performance here in Atlanta in late June. More details will be available soon.
We're not just for gays anymore.June 25, 2011
There are many great things about the state of New York, the latest of which is the right for same-sex couples to get married! New York City, however, will always be known for its theatre - musical theatre in particular. And now, gay couples can enjoy the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts when they sit down to watch a good show. And we're celebrating that! It’s easy to get lost in a good stage play. The story is being told right there in front of us and it’s easy to believe. In ballet and opera, we're immersed in the world of music that drives the story without interruption. Even in cinema we're willing to suspend our disbelief as we watch aliens invade us from another planet. Somehow it just makes sense.
A discussion would inevitably follow with varying observations: it’s exciting, it’s a caricature of life, it’s a balance between a stage play and an opera. Or simply, "I have no idea, but I love it." Eventually we agreed upon what I believe to be the answer: We wish life could be that way. Sometimes we’re so happy we feel like dancing, other times we feel the need for a gut-wrenching ballad to express a desire or a loss, and when we find ourselves telling a funny story, well, why not sing it if we could? The idea that music might intertwine with every day life seldom occurs to us in the moment, particularly for people who don’t consider themselves singers, but when we see this happen on stage, we identify with it. And honey, give the gays something to identify with and we're off and running.
Yet, as Neil Patrick Harris and the cast of the opening number of this year’s Tony Awards put it, “Broadway has never been broader, and it’s not just for gays anymore.” Apparently the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus isn’t, either. According to an audience survey at our last concert, the majority of first-time ticket buyers identified as heterosexual. Yay! So is there anything particularly “gay” about this concert? Beyond our opening number (a tongue-in-cheek, behind the scenes look at how our concerts are created), not much. We’re simply a group of men (not all of whom identify as gay) singing some of theatre’s best music of the past three decades; and while there is no story or commentary, there is a thru-line that will leave you feeling as if you’ve just seen a full-fledged musical. (Check out the program in the right column.)
So regardless of how you identify, join us as we present “Thirty Years of Broadway,” celebrating thirty years of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus. "We’re asking every hetero to get to know us better, oh we’re not just for gays anymore!"
Kevin Robison Artistic Director
Opera is not for sissies.April 24, 2011
Another great joy I have in this job is not taking credit for everything you see on the stage. I am fortunate to have many great volunteers that help bring together the various elements of a concert in a cohesive and polished form. Among them are T.N. Retif, the finest vocal technician I know; David Artadi, who is nothing short of an expert in languages; Peyson Moss, our very young and very gifted pianist; Eric Klem, one of the most collaborative and talented stage directors I've ever worked with; Robert Sanders and his team who make sure we have something to stand on; and Freddy Clements, who makes the drive from Alabama each week, not only to sing with us, but to create These are only a few of the many talented men who give many hours of their valuable time toward creating music with a mission. Apart from their credit in the program, they seldom get the public recognition they deserve. There's also a group of chorus members who essentially double their commitment to the AGMC by singing in our small ensemble Panache (pictured here in a photo by Daemon Baizan). They rehearse twice a week and appear at many galas, fund-raisers, and private events that the full chorus cannot always attend. What's more, Panache will give its first-ever ticketed concert performance on May 14 in Cannon Chapel on the Emory campus. The chorus has many other heroes, including those who make up our music advisory committee, helping me make important choices about our programming; our membership committee, tracking and communicating information to over a hundred men; music leaders who hear things I sometimes don't; an audience development team that works to keep our patrons informed of our performances; and many others, including Doug, Mac, Dennis, Tim C...well, I could write all day. It is the experience that I have with these men every Thursday night that reminds me of what a great job I have. I am indeed fortunate.
Regardless, opera isn't for sissies, as we will prove this week. The material makes great demands of its performers and our men have risen to the challenge We look forward to seeing you at a new venue for us next weekend: The Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe and home to the Georgia Shakespeare Festival. Opera our way will be revisited and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Hojotoho!
Kevin Robison Artistic Director
Busy times!March 23, 2011
This week marks the third year in a row we have hosted the Big Wig Party. It's an event that's not to be missed, especially in our new venue on Miami Circle. Completely member-driven, this event continues to grow in size and scope. We don't even sing at this event. Just lots of outrageous wigs and fabulous costumes. Click on the image on the left to get your tickets now! In just over a month, the chorus will make its first-ever appearance on the campus of Oglethorpe University in the Conant Performing Arts Center. "Divas 2: Opera Revisited" is a stunning sequel to our first opera concert presented in 2008. It's not music we do very Now go beat that wig!
Kevin Robison Artistic Director Grab Your Helmet and Spear!February 10, 2011 We're gearing up for our fabulous spring concert, Divas 2: Opera Revisited, set for three performances in April at the Conant Performing Arts Center on the campus of Oglethorpe University. Check out the program in the column on the right and look for more details in the weeks to come!
Kevin Robison Artistic Director
Lighten up, everyone!November 21, 2010 In September of 1981, forty-five charter members of the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus met for their first rehearsal under the baton of founding Artistic Director Jeffrey McIntyre. The passion and vision that those men had for the group was strong, and 29 years later, that vision remains. On December 10 & 11, the AGMC will present the first concert of its 30th season, and I am honored to be at the helm.
I believe this statement to be as true today as it was three decades ago. The AGMC was the first gay men’s chorus I had ever heard of. At the time, my choral director at the University of North Alabama was telling a group of students about attending a convention at which the AGMC performed. One of the other students asked, “Gay men’s chorus? Does that mean that they’re all…gay?” While everyone else snickered, I was thinking, “Hmmmm….” A couple of years later, that same director brought me to Atlanta for a choral convention, where I heard the Young Singers of Callanwolde for the first time. I wasn’t aware of it, but two wheels had been set into motion that were destined for convergence. In the early 90’s, when I was auditioning for graduate schools, I visited the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where I met fine faculty and a great group of students who were thrilled to be part of the program. One of those students had grown up singing with the Young Singers of Callanwolde. That training had landed her in one of the top graduate programs in the country. She had no idea, however, that she would soon return to Atlanta to become the Young Singers’ next music director. And I had no idea that we would one day be collaborating. I made a different choice for graduate school, and neither of us recall having met that weekend. Holiday Lights is also a full-circle one for the AGMC. We're bringing you music that has meant a great deal to the chorus and our patrons over the years, music from animated television classics that many of us grew up with, new music being heard for the first time, and timeless holiday classics. We’re lighting up the holidays in a way that befits 30 years of music with a mission. We hope that you and your family find as much joy in the performances as we have experienced preparing it. What’s more, Paige and I are thrilled to be bringing two of Atlanta’s longest-running choruses together for the first time. We hope you'll be joining us! Lights up!
Kevin Robison Artistic Director I won't be laughed at today for wearing purple.October 20, 2010 A good friend of mine says that going back to his high school reunion was very therapeutic, but I never needed to do that to move past the pain of adolescence. When my 10-year reunion was held, I simply contributed – along with many others not attending – a written update that was published for classmates to read. There have since been two other reunions that I’ve chosen to not attend because I don’t need to walk those halls again. I’m sure many of the bullies have grown up and would never consider saying the kinds of things to me today that were said back then, but is that true for everyone? I think social networks like Facebook are an interesting way to gauge whether people have changed. There So what constitutes bullying? Ironically, the archaic meaning of the word “bully” was actually “sweetheart” or a “fine chap” – far from the current definition of someone who is habitually cruel to someone considered to be less powerful. According to behavior experts, there are three kinds of bullying, just as there are three kinds of abuse: verbal, emotional and physical. An abusive spouse is a bully. A boss who abuses his power over you is a bully. Bullying can occur between countries, races, or religious groups. Any form of rankism can be considered bullying and it can even prompt people to migrate to another country. So how do we stop it? By recognizing our own power over it. But that’s not always a simple a thing to do when you are twelve years old. And, just as the bullies may carry the behavior into adulthood, so can the victim by never believing in his self-worth. Victims of bullying need help, especially at this young age. It seems that one of the most effective remedies is to encourage peers to step up. "When other kids that were bystanders intervened on behalf of the victim, the victim was less likely to experience anxiety or depression," said Dr. Catherine Bradshaw, associate director of the Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence. Intervening, however, is also risky, and so bystanders have to be taught how to do it safely, without engaging in similar behavior themselves. That’s why the Trevor Project, It Gets Better, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and other groups are taking an important stand. At the time of this writing, over 1.5 million people have decided to wear purple today in memory of the recent teen suicides prompted by bullying (and that’s just on Facebook alone). Today I won’t be laughed at for wearing the color, as I was in high school once. And if I am, I’ll wince for only a moment and then laugh myself. I don’t know, maybe I will accept the former bully’s friend request. I do hope he knows what’s happening today and is looking back on what he may have learned. The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus is currently pursuing opportunities for education and outreach on this issue. Look for concert programming to address this topic in the near future and for ways in which we are connecting with schools and youth organizations to help stop this deadly behavior. Do your part today by wearing purple, but don’t stop at midnight. Every day, kids are being bullied and if we don’t stop it now, the world will only become a less fortunate place to live – for all of us. K
Gay men never admit to turning 30,but we're making an exception!September 9, 2010 In September of 1981, forty-five charter members of the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus met for their first rehearsal under the baton of founding Artistic Director Jeffrey McIntyre. Tonight, the AGMC will hold the first rehearsal of its 30th season, and, with Jeffrey's support and blessing, I am honored to be at the helm. K
Meanwhile, Back in the U.S.July 4, 2010
Today is a day of celebration. Across this great country of ours, people from all walks of life will plop down before a backdrop of fireworks and take great pleasure in the consumption of hot dogs, baked beans and coleslaw. But in the midst of their rampant reveling, many will do as they do at Christmas and forget the real meaning of this holiday: celebrating the fact that we live in the world’s greatest country – indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Right. After watching local or national news or reading any recent edition of The New York Times one might beg to differ. Even the feature stories in today’s NYT seem to suggest that America is taking giant leaps backward: a story on the paintings of Normal Rockwell subtitled “Harmony and Freckles for Tough Times,” a letter from a mom concerned about swear words her daughter’s friend is posting on Facebook, and an article on heterosexual dating trends that completely sidesteps gays and lesbians (fondue dates are so yesterday; today’s heterosexuals get to know one another over lobster rolls). But just when I thought I must have been reading the 1955 issue, I was whisked back to the present by the wedding announcements. Typically littered with blurbs and photos of multi-million dollar heterosexual marriages, today’s section opened with two large color photos and a half-page article on the wedding of furniture mogul Mitchell Gold and Tim Scofield (pictured). When I read the feature story on this wedding, part of me rejoiced because there was once a time when I thought I’d never see something like this in The New York Times. But another part of me had a knee-jerk reaction: It’s still not enough. It’s not enough until all newspapers adopt this practice. It’s not enough until there are legitimate same-sex weddings in every state. It’s not enough until the AGMC can, in good faith, remove the G from its name because it’s outdated. Until such time, however, we sing. We sing in the universal language of music. We sing for our freedom. We sing because speaking is not enough. Oh, Kevin, don’t wax so political here. It’s the music of The Beatles. Yes, it is. And one can’t help but draw parallels when you consider that, just as The Beatles were at the peak of their career, we were beginning a revolution of our own – one that is still underway four decades later. The music and lyrics of The Beatles are timeless; seldom was either confined by the era in which they were written. In fact, many say that together they defined an era that culminated, at least for us, with the Stonewall Riots. Perhaps the best example of why we’re singing this music can be found in the lyrics of “Revolution”: But when you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell you is, brother, you’ll have to wait. Expressions like this take on a slightly different meaning when we sing them (especially references to the Constitution and “the institution”), but Paul McCartney would tell you that however you interpret the message, one thing is certain: We all want to change the world. Next weekend, the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus will do its part and embark on a journey not only of The Beatles’ greatest hits, but of the soul of their music. I believe we’ve woven the arrangements and the action of this piece into something significant. And while our modest production may not possess the glitz and glam of Cirque du Soleil, it is full of life and speaks from the heart, providing real comfort in difficult times – comfort that goes way beyond the freckled faces of Norman Rockwell. Yeah, it’s gonna be alright.
K
How one choral conductor finally came to know the music of The BeatlesMay 29, 2010 And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
One of the most profound sentiments to be penned by Lennon/McCartney, this short line served as the complete lyric for the song “The End” which concluded the last album The Beatles would record: the timeless Abbey Road. This perfect farewell statement by the Fab Four will also appear in the grand finale of our upcoming concert, All You Need Is Love: The Music of The Beatles. I will admit it. I was not a Beatles fan until a year ago. I was born at the height of their popularity and by the time I was old enough to understand what rock music was, their place had been taken up by the likes of Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan. In college, when I first heard that courses were being taught on the music of The Beatles, I remember thinking, “I should know more of their music than I do. Someday I’ll make time to see what all the fuss is about.” Fast-forward a couple of decades to Christmas in Los Angeles when my friend Harry Aguado gave me a copy of The Beatles Complete Scores. I remember opening the 1200-page book and marveling at how much effort had gone into transcribing the finest details of each song In early 2009, when we first began talking about a tribute to The Beatles, I was intrigued, but not sure how excited I would be about the music, though I had many reasons to be: It’s music written for male voices, we had access to original transcriptions, and it was music that epitomized the revolutionary 60’s when the gay rights struggle was just beginning. But, alas, I didn’t know this music. Or so I thought. Once I began listening to these classic recordings, I realized something as profound as the music itself: I did know it. And when I didn’t, I felt like I did. Over the decades, the music of The Beatles has permeated society to the point where even non-aficionados know it by sheer osmosis. Plus, the 50th anniversary of the group (this year) has reignited a world-wide interest their music. (If someone wants to count them, I'd love to know how many Beatles apps there are for the iPhone. I stopped after the first ten.) Once we determined that we could actually get permission to perform this music, our creative team began to assemble a short list of must-do Beatles songs (try doing that with ten gay men). I soon began to appreciate what Lennon and McCartney stood for, how they wrote, and what The Beatles were really about. Mind you, I couldn't comprehend the lyrics of “Come Together” – turns out The Beatles didn’t intend for anyone to – but I understood that this band seemed to have been on a mission that remained relevant half a century later. In July, the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus will be singing twenty-eight Beatles songs – perhaps a record number of pieces for the chorus in one performance. We feel we’ve brought them together in a unique way that supports our mission, maintains excellence, and remains true to The Beatles' original recordings. No lyrics have been altered and in almost every case, the orchestration (for a five-piece rock band) is exactly as The Beatles recorded it. Why mess with something so perfectly timeless? We’re excited to bring you what we think is the best of The Beatles (see the song list to the right). But we're quick to note that we could easily program a second tribute. Who knows? This Beatles fan might just suggest we do that at some point. K Making HistoryMarch 17, 2010 The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus embarks this week on its first ever tour of Georgia and people are talking! In the good way. Our appearances in Macon, Savannah, Augusta and Athens are highly anticipated. We have partnered with organizations in each city and look forward to seeing their members in person this weekend! Two luxury coaches are warming up for our departure on Friday afternoon. At 2 PM, we will depart Atlanta for Macon, the first leg of the tour. We will appear at Theatre Macon that evening and attend a reception afterward. Jim Crisp, Artistic Director of the theatre, has been a big supporter of the chorus and has worked hard to help bring us there. Saturday morning we rise early and hit the road for Savannah. The fine people of Asbury Methodist Church will be providing lunch for us prior to our afternoon performance in their newly renovated sanctuary (an absolutely beautiful space, I might add). That evening, we're off to a private dinner at Paula Deen's "The Lady and Sons" and a nice evening on the town. We leave our lovely ocean-front hotel on Sunday morning for Augusta, where we perform that afternoon. The performance is at the Jabez Performing Arts Center (just outside of Augusta in Evans) and serves as a benefit for the recently resurrected Augusta Pride. Many thanks to David Stepp and Isaac Kelley of the Pride committee for their unmatched enthusiasm and support of the AGMC. We'll dine in Augusta afterward and return home to Atlanta Sunday evening. The following Thursday, we carpool to Athens for a first-ever performance in the stunning concert hall on the campus of UGA. I don't know exactly what it means, but I've been told to learn the phrase "Go Dawgs" for this performance? I'm going to have to look that up. Our homecoming performances in Atlanta take place the following two nights at Virginia-Highland church. Chris Glaser, pastor, invited us to give an encore performance of "Shaken, Not Heard" in their space just after its premiere last April. It took us a year, but we're thrilled to be making it happen. We hope those of you in these cities and surrounding communities will turn out in full force to join us these next two weeks. Georgia has been on our minds and we're taking music with a mission on the road! K
It all begins tonight.December 11, 2009 After an extremely successful dress rehearsal at the Cathedral of St. Philip, I am happy to say that AGMC is poised for one of our best holiday concerts yet. The men are singing exceptionally well, we have a terrific team of instrumentalists that you can only find in Atlanta, and a guest soloist that will knock your red fuzzy holiday socks right off your feet. December Detours is a multi-cultural event that celebrates music and traditions from all around the globe. We have music from Finland, Austria, Puerto Rico and the UK, to name a few. Hear the chorus sing in Taiwanese for the first time, and hear the stunning Ms. Temko beautiful render two folk songs from her native China. We also promise some holiday favorites for you, including "Deck the Hall," "Still, Still, Still," "Carol of the Bells" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas." It's an evening full of great music in a beautiful space that's sure to put you in the holiday spirit, however you celebrate this time of year. I always love concert days, and especially these concert days. At a time when the world may seem to be against us -- whether by the economy, persecution or inequality -- AGMC is standing and singing strong, demonstrating our commitment to better living through music. Come get a healthy dose of holiday hope! K
High-definition holiday treatsDecember 5, 2009 AGMC is zeroing in on the final touches for our upcoming celebration at the cathedral. On Saturday, December 5, we're giving a special preview performance in the Bailey Performing Arts Center on the campus of Kennesaw State University. On Sunday, December 6, our vocal ensemble Panache will appear at Atlanta's famed "Toy Party" - one of the most-well attended holiday events in the southeast. And on Monday, December 7, you'll be able to hear the AGMC on WABE public radio when it airs "All Spruced Up and KNOW where to go!" - the full concert from our 2008 season. And while we will all sit at home and enjoy our performance on Monday evening, it is still a very busy time for us as we bring together the chorus's biggest concert of the year. December Detours is an around-the-globe musical celebration bringing together the many ways we celebrate the holidays and traditions of our multi-cultural planet. Our trip makes stops in Finland, Austria, Norway, England, Ireland, France, the Ukraine, Puerto Rico, China, Taiwan, Germany and of course the Americas. From eastern folksongs to traditional carols, the AGMC has prepared for you an international smorgasbord of ear-pleasing holiday treats. One of these treats is soprano Wanda Yang Temko, who returns to the AGMC as a special guest for this concert. Wanda previously shared the stage with the chorus in We are also happy to feature Wanda in the concert's centerpiece, “Hymn to the Nativity” by American composer David Conte. Conte’s neo-romantic style, greatly influenced by French impressionist composers, is the perfect match for John Milton’s text “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity.” Conte scored the piece for soprano (the angel of the Lord), male chorus and chamber orchestra, including harp, celesta and vibraphone. Shortly after its premiere by the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus in 1987, Bill Zakariasen of the New York Daily News remarked that “Hymn to the Nativity” was “…truly celestial in its thematic material and in its voicing for singers and instrumentalists,” and went on to say that nothing more beautiful had been written for the Christmas season in years. Twenty-two years later, Conte’s piece remains one of the great modern contributions to holiday choral repertoire. One of the last students of renowned teacher Nadia Boulanger, David Conte has composed concert works for organ, orchestra, and scores for the stage and screen, including the 2006 acclaimed documentary Ballets Russes. He is perhaps best known, however, for his choral music and it’s through the generosity of a private donor that the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus will be commissioning a new work by David Conte to be premiered at the chorus’s holiday concert of 2010, marking the beginning of the AGMC’s 30th season. Choosing music for our holiday concerts is one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of my job, and I am grateful for the valuable input of the AGMC’s music advisory committee, our singing members and our patrons in the process. In addition to offering you traditional favorites, we believe that celebrating music of all cultures, from the traditional to the unexpected, is an important part of our mission to educate, unify and celebrate equality. It’s the time of year when we’re able to present music of the highest caliber, and we so enjoy bringing it to you. All of us at the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus wish you and yours the happiest of holidays! We'll see you at the Cathedral of St. Philip next week! K Different paths, same goalNovember 10, 2009"Today I am tempted to feel like an exile in my native land – to question who and what I am. But this I know: ...We are fully human. We are Americans. We are Christians. And we are most assuredly married." Last week on Facebook, I posted a link to a blog written by our dear friend Harry Knox, Director of Religion and Faith for the HRC, quoted above. In heartfelt words, he articulated a poignant response to the recent vote that banned gay marriage in Maine. He also continued to assert that he and his partner deserve the same rights as heterosexual couples, referring to himself as a Christian who would not give up the fight. After elections like the one in Maine last week, it's expected that LGBT citizens are going to voice outrage with organized religion. While I agree that what's happening is abominable, some go so far as calling people like Harry part of the problem because they continue to sit in the pews. It's not something I would have been able to do a year ago, but because of my experience with our most recent spring concert, I am moved to respond in defense of those like Harry who follow the faith. Our outrage with organized religion is absolutely justified, but I believe if everything we write, speak or sing comes from a place of anger, people eventually stop listening. Frustration is a great motivator, but it’s only effective when channeled in a productive way. Swords and cudgels may have served the civil rights movement, but I don’t believe they are the instruments of choice for non-confrontational beings. I may not agree with the religious views of people like Harry, but I applaud the courage and steadfastness it takes for someone like him to remain storming the halls of organized religion. We cannot fault him, we need him. We need Daniel Helminiak to explain the scriptures and call these people on their manipulative misinterpretations. We need Bradley Schmeling to rise victorious after sparking a national debate among the Lutherans. We need Christian de la Huerta to bring forward research that proves these belief systems wrong. We need Chris Glaser, Angela Harmon, David Salyer, Carolyn Mobley – everyone who served on the panel discussions after our performances – and we need hundreds of thousands more just like them. If the church is going to run the country and pay for election results, would we not do well to make sure some of us remain affiliated with the church? Take a look at what one Atlanta family has been doing for nearly a decade. I can’t tell you how inspiring it is to know followers of faith like Jeff and Patti Ellis. Visit their website (below) and ask whether you want to remain critical of them just because they still go to church. I don’t.
And Harry Knox does it by following his faith. In the end, we all become part of the solution. K
Read Harry Knox's full blog on the recent election in Maine.
Circle of the starsOctober 6, 2009It's "that week" for us once again. We have anywhere from three to four of "those weeks" in a given season. In theatre they call it "hell week," but I know a director who refers to it as "heaven week." Both are generally misnomers, but I must admit that this week I'm anticipating a bit of heaven in the life of the AGMC. It's not often - if ever - that we only have to prepare six pieces for a concert. It's not that often we get to perform with Broadway stars. And it's certainly not common place for us to share the stage with a major symphony orchestra. It's not that we can't hold our own, mind you, it's just that such convergences are infrequent. In 2006, I had the opportunity to conduct a performance with the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The structure is a spectacular achievement in architecture and acoustics (the latter being designed by the same acoustician who gave the Cobb Energy Center its wonderful sound.) You can hear everything in Disney Hall -- so much that when you stand in the conductor's position and address the chorus, you feel as if you're speaking into your own ears. Talk about being beside yourself.
It was immediately clear that Susan was a delightful person and a tremendous talent. Her spirit, her voice and her professionalism were unmatched. (She almost stole my heart that night; but what are you going to remember most as a gay man: working with Susan Egan or sitting next to Malcolm Gets during the second act? It's a very tough call.) It wasn't long after that concert that I invited Susan to do a master class with my musical theatre students at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts. A big supporter of arts education, Susan brought her years of experience into the classroom in a way that I have seldom seen. Genuine. Transparent. No nonsense about the biz, but also encouraging to aspiring college students. Not long after I moved to Atlanta and realized we'd be programming our Kander & Ebb tribute, I circled back to Susan to see if she might be able to join us as a special guest; but by that point she was busy playing mom -- the ultimate role of a lifetime. Susan told me that her performing was going to be scaled back in the coming years and that most of her work would be with symphony orchestras. Naturally, she was most elegant in her regrets. Who knew at that point I could have said, "Well, we'll just wait until you sing with the Atlanta Symphony and they invite us to be the chorus"? I think I almost did. I look forward to seeing Susan on Thursday and introducing her to the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus. I know that they will find her as delightful as I did -- as delightful as you will this weekend. Her small frame packs a powerful punch whenever she takes the stage and I can assure you that Susan, the other guests, the orchestra and chorus are all poised to deliver two incredible performances in Atlanta Symphony Hall. There, I will enjoy the rarest of treats: sitting in the audience and listening to the AGMC. No need for fancy acoustical effects in my ears this time. Just the music, please. K
Season 29 - and holding?September 9, 2009Gay men never want to turn 30. Then we dread turning 40. We can't even imagine turning 50. At least that's what I've been told. I suppose I'll find out soon enough. : ) Nonetheless, as the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus approaches its 30th season, we are more excited than ever about our future -- and truly excited to be on the eve of celebrating three decades of music with a mission! And while we won't officially turn 30 until two years from now, we are only a year away from season 30. (It's like that Y2K thing I could never figure out. Have I confused you yet?) The 28th season posed many challenges for AGMC. The economy alone was enough of a storm for a non-profit to weather, but on top of that we lost a dear chorus member and a number of our members lost loved ones. At the same time, we achieved great things as an arts organization, and were all reminded of the importance of singing through whatever challenges we may face. I am proud of our accomplishments and wish the best for some of our brother and sister organizations that are on the verge of closing their doors. There is much to write about and share with you in the months ahead, but a few high points on the eve of our first rehearsal of the 29th season. First, we are thrilled to be returning to Symphony Hall in October, this time to actually perform with the Symphony! Broadway Rocks! promises to be two great evenings of entertainment and celebration. AGMC is the featured chorus in this ASO pops concert that includes Broadway stars Susan Egan, Rob Evan and others. I for one am looking forward to rehearsing the chorus' six pieces and then sitting in the audience like you and just enjoying the show! Michael Krajewski, ASO guest conductor, will be at the podium and I look forward to an exciting collaboration with both him and the ASO, to whom we're grateful for having invited us. As a side note: Brenda and I checked the ticket availability for the ASO performances and tickets are going very fast. If you wait much longer, there won't be any! Before we know it, the holiday show will be upon us and our 29th season will be in full swing. Take a look at our home page for more details. If you live in Georgia outside of Atlanta, take special note of AGMC's spring tour when we'll be coming to a performance hall near you. Finally, get ready to rock on with the Beatles as we celebrate 50 years of rock's most sophisticated band! 29 and holding? Not us. K
Celebrating the Sweet and SadJuly 29, 2009The attention our upcoming concert is receiving is amazing. LUSH LIFE has been the subject of three interviews on local jazz stations, highlighted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a daily public service announcement on public radio, and the headline event for the current issue of an online jazz newsletter. It is also featured in the National Black Arts Festival program book, now available around town, and we're told that tomorrow it is featured in WABE's City Cafe with John Lemley. In addition to local press, we have garnered the attention of jazz aficionados from as far away as Amsterdam. But most important to me is the fact that Billy Strayhorn's family will be joining us. Larry Strayhorn, Billy's nephew, and eight other family members arrive on Friday for the weekend. Not only have they been generous to allow us to perform this music, they are coming to Atlanta from all over the country at their own expense. I'm beginning to believe this is a big deal. I know it is historic. Billy's music has been honored by gay choruses in the past, but not in collaboration with an established jazz band and not in partnership with an event like the National Black Arts Festival. Add to that the fact that we have three tremendous guest artists, one of whom is premiering five new monologues that give us a glimpse into the life of this great composer. As we count down the final days before our one-night-only event, I am thrilled to say that the extended efforts of the AGMC for this event have paid off. What people will hear in Symphony Hall on Saturday evening will be unmatched for many. Yet, amidst all our celebrating, we remain shocked and saddened by the sudden death of long-time chorus member and AGMC production manager Mark McManus. Mark, if you can somehow read this from where you are, please know that it's tough here, but we're going to be okay. No one will ever replace you -- it will take ten people to continue to do all that you have done for us -- but we are forging ahead and are dedicating this performance to you. What you stood for and the generosity of spirit that graced every good deed you performed will be with us on stage. Better yet, we will feel as though we're standing on your shoulders. Thank you, Billy and Mark for being sources of great inspiration for so many gay men and for giving us more reasons to celebrate and sing.
Would Billy be proud? We think so.July 8, 2009We're now in the homestretch for both this concert cycle and for our smashing 28th Season. And we're ready to finish with a send-up like no other in chorus or music history, for that matter. AGMC, Jazz Orchestra Atlanta, and the National Black Arts Festival are coming together to form a collaboration worthy of history books. On August 1, composer Billy Strayhorn, the man behind the music of Duke Ellington, will be honored for who he was and for the incredible musical legacy he left behind. What better way to celebrate a black gay composer than with this collaboration? You can read more below about our special guests John Wesley Wright and Donzaleigh Abernathy. In addition to these spectacular talents, we are proud to announce that Atlanta jazz favorite L'Tanya Moore will now be joining the lineup, showcasing two of Strayhorn's greatest songs, "Day Dream" and the timeless "Satin Doll." I had the opportunity to work alongside Alan Broadbent in creating the scores for this concert when the New York and Los Angeles gay men's choruses pooled their resources to hire this amazing jazz talent to create brand new arrangements for male voices. Even though I've lived with this music for several years now, I continue to maintain that these are some of the finest arrangements of these timeless tunes ever written. Throughout this process, I've had the opportunity to get to know Larry Strayhorn, Billy's nephew, who is the chairman of the board for Strayhorn Songs, Inc. It's because of their generosity that we are able to bring this great music to you. I'm also thrilled that Larry will be in town and giving a pre-concert chat prior to the concert. Stay tuned for more details! So there's "Satin Doll," "Lush Life," and "Take the A-Train," but what else did Billy write? A song list appears at the end of this blog entry. You may not recognize all of them, but you will leave symphony hall wanting to sing all of them! We look forward to giving new life to these standards and to introducing you to the amazing legacy of one of history's greatest: William Thomas Strayhorn. K LUSH LIFE: THE MUSIC OF BILLY STRAYHORN Day Dream I'm Checkin' Out Imaginary Guy Just a-Settin' and a-Rockin' Kissin' Bug Lotus Blossom Love Like This Can't Last Lush Life My Flame Burns Blue On the Wrong Side of the Tracks Oo! You Make Me Tingle Satin Doll September Rain Something to Live For Take the A-Train
ConnectionsMay 14, 2009On August 1, three of Atlanta's premiere arts organizations will come together for the first time to celebrate the life and music of one of jazz history's most prolific and profound composers: William Thomas Strayhorn. It's a significant partnership because each organization brings to the table a unique perspective on a key element of Billy's life: his ethnicity, music, and sexual identification. When the AGMC music advisory committee and I began discussing our interest in programming this concert (originally commissioned by the gay men's choruses in Los Angeles and New York), we knew right away that the forces involved had to be authentic. It wasn't enough to hire professional instrumentalists to play the score, we needed a solid group that played together on a regular basis. Enter Brent Runnels, Artistic Director of Jazz Orchestra Atlanta, a world-class pianist, and a man who already knew Strayhorn's music well. Two of the three collaborative components were in place. Our partnership with the National Black Arts Festival was a long time coming, however. We were first on their radar over a year ago when I had the opportunity to meet Stephanie Hughley, Artistic Director of NBAF, who expressed genuine interest in this concert. However, like many arts organizations in this economic climate, NBAF had to revisit plans for this summer's festival, putting the hope for a partnership in limbo for several months. Then, less than a month ago, our concert was enthusiastically embraced by NBAF and we learned it will appear as an official event in this season's festival, scheduled for July 29 - August 2, 2009, at the Woodruff Arts Center. But there is an even deeper convergence at play as we prepare for our final concert of the season. When I was in Los Angeles In her moving speech, Donzaleigh spoke of how proud her Uncle Martin would be to have been there and to see gay men's choruses becoming leaders in the fight for equality. Donzaleigh is, of course, the daughter of Ralph David Abernathy, Dr. King's partner in the civil rights movement. She always called him Uncle Martin and has made it her mission to champion his work, as demonstrated in her book Partners to History. Ms. Abernathy is also known for her role in the Lifetime Television series Any Day Now and, as I witnessed in Los Angeles, has the power to capture a live audience with her presence in a way one doesn't often see. I came back to Atlanta ready to invite her to be part of this project. Soon after, the offer was made and she enthusiastically accepted. Then, when reading David Hajdu's biography of Billy Strayhorn, I noticed a photo of Billy in which Dr. King appears. It was taken at the baptism of Warren and Marian Logan's son, over which King presided. It turns out that Billy, a close friend of the Logan's, met Dr. King that weekend and a life-long friendship was born. Dr. King quickly came to support Billy, his openness and honesty, and asserted that Billy was doing important work simply by being open about who he was. Donzaleigh, of course, knew the Logan familly name and remembers having met Marian at a very early age. And now, as the stars would have it, Marian is one of the four characters Donzaleigh will portray in a series of monologues that bring together the music of this concert in a very powerful way. I believe connections like these are no accident and that once again we are poised for greatness as we break barriers and forge new connections. K
Ever up and onward!May 5, 2009
Imagine for a moment that you grew up in the slums outside of Pittsburg in the 1920's. Two of your three older siblings died in infancy and no one expected you to make it, either. In fact, you weren't even given a name until you were five years old, when the family stopped referring to you as Baby Boy and began to call you William. Now imagine that you spent much of your childhood in the parlor of a brothel. There was a Victrola, stocked with music that young people rarely had the chance to hear. "Race records," they were called. Early jazz. You couldn't even read, but you memorized every song and could easily find a tune just by looking at the album covers. Imagine spending a summer teaching yourself to play the piano at your grandmother's house in North Carolina, then taking a job in your teenage years just so you could buy your own. Who knew that these and other events, including the fact that a radical music teacher would join the faculty of your high school at exactly the right time, would be so perfectly synchronized, so aptly timed as to poise you for becoming one of the greatest composers in jazz history? Imagine that you are Billy Strayhorn. Like us, Billy struggled to be himself amidst what society was telling him he should be. Being a black man during an era rife with racial prejudice was tough enough, but to be a homosexual in a career dominated by straight men? That took courage. And Billy Strayhorn had courage; yet he chose to remain in the shadow of Duke Ellington, allowing him to take credit for much of his work simply because he didn't want his private life in the public spotlight. In his later years, Billy became a highly respected friend of Dr. Martin Luther King. He knew Billy was gay and that he, like Bayard Rustin (King's advisor on tactics for non-violent resistance), would further the fight for civil rights simply because he had the courage to come out. Now imagine what Billy would think about a gay men's chorus performing a tribute to his music 42 years after his death. Imagine that he knows the gay men's choruses of New York and Los Angeles commissioned the greatest jazz arranger alive to score it. Imagine him knowing that the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus and Jazz Orchestra Atlanta are presenting it as part of something called the National Black Arts Festival. Imagine him knowing that the closest family friends to Dr. King, the Abernathy's, are going to be present and that his own nephew will be here to celebrate. Once again, we are poised for greatness. The stars have aligned, much as they did for Billy, and we are once again blessed to lift our voices together in celebration of who we are and what we stand for. To pay tribute to Billy's genius, to partner with the National Black Arts Festival, and to do it on holy ground seems an opportunity almost inconceivable, but here we are. On Thursday night, we will begin rehearsals for one of the biggest concerts in AGMC history. And in the words of a recent audience member, we will do so with voices "strong, bold and fabulous." Ever up and onward. K Faith and ReclamationApril 28, 2009I don't do what I do to get a reaction from an audience. It's never my intention to build a concert on the premise of what I think will sell out, and I don't generally program for the masses because it often results in mindless entertainment. I think most about what we need to accomplish with regard to our mission, which is to deliver a high-quality product that affirms who we are. Such was the case with Shaken, Not Heard. Yet, I cannot put into words the powerful reception the concert received this past weekend. I have never seen people leap to their feet eight bars before a piece was finished. I haven't seen anyone stand in a church pew and wave her arms since my Freewill Baptist days. In short, I didn't know it was possible for an audience to take away even more than we believed we were bringing to them. Sure, we wanted to affect people with our stories. The damage that organized religion continues to inflict on us is tremendous and people need to see the curtain pulled back on the issue. But to see how ready people were to receive this piece was overwhelming. Take a look at our home page for quotes, including one that says we have redefined the oratorio. One audience member has even written a poem in response to our performance. I've never gotten so many e-mails from members or audience members after a series of concerts. At our panel discussions following the performances -- each of which were attended by nearly 100 people -- I was asked what the future holds for this piece. I can safely say that Shaken, Not Heard will have a life beyond April 26 and that you can expect to see encore performances in the weeks and months (years?) to come. Three other Atlanta churches have already invited us, and loose invitations have been issued from Macon to Miami. People are ready to hear this. My hope is that we will not only continue to empower our own people, but also that parents, friends, pastors, or anyone who may continue to use misguided belief systems against us will see this issue from our perspective. David's story is everyone's story. K
T minus 9 hours, 47 minutesApril 24, 2009
We had a fabulous final rehearsal last night at Oakhurst. Christian's presence with us was both exciting and calming. I believe we're in store for a tremendous weekend. If you plan to purchase your ticket at the door, arrive early. Parking is a bit of a challenge in the Oakhurst neighborhood. There are adjacent lots, but they are likely to fill up quickly. You might also consider the MARTA station, where you can park for free (no towing unless you park overnight). If you don't know the lay of the land in that area, it can be confusing, so allow yourself plenty of time. Also note that the lobby at the venue is small, and it may take some time to purchase tickets at the last minute -- and late seating is not going to be easy for this concert. The 80-minute performance has no intermission, so you'll want to arrive early enough for restrooms, etc. AGMC looks forward to your presence with us this weekend! Peace, K
T minus 32 hours, 39 minutesApril 23, 2009Production week gets a bum rap. When I was working in professional theatre, one of two terms were generally used to name it: "tech week" if you were looking forward to it, or "hell week" if you weren't. And believe me, when you're doing shows in rep, there are those you favor. When we decided to produce Shaken, Not Heard, we intentionally created a program that was stripped of glitz and production elements. We sometimes call that a "stand and sing" concert; and while SNH has evolved into more than just standing and singing, the element of simplicity we originally sought to keep is still present. There's no dramatic lighting; the audience will be in full view the entire time; there's no curtain, no pit and nothing to accompany us but our wonderful pianist. Short of a few numbers that have some festive movement, it's pretty much bare bones. Yet, SNH is highly theatrical. I remember working on several productions in California (mostly Shakespeare) where there was not much more than a ladder or chair on the stage. And if you saw the revival of "Sweeney Todd" you know what it means to take in the power of a story without the bling. I think that's what we've achieved with this piece. So all in all, this week is going very smoothly. We can't really call it tech, because there's not much to tech, and we're certainly not in hell. In fact, the opposite is true. Christian de le Huerta is already in town for the weekend. Yesterday he and I spent a wonderful afternoon together talking about the script, how it came together, and hitting the highlights. This afternoon we'll work on the narration in detail and assemble it with the chorus in our final dress tonight. As Christian brings the character of David to life, even with book in hand, the impact of these stories is poised to affect our audience deeply. We witnessed it in Marietta last week when our own Rob McDowell gave him a fabulous premiere. Moreover, David is supported by five additional characters that bookend the concert. Together, they illustrate the universality of David's story and bring it full circle in a powerful finish inspired by the writings of Christian himself. The final moments of the evening contains, in my opinion, the best sermon that gay, lesbian, and transgendered people could ever hope to hear. It's preaching of a different kind -- one that inspires, uplifts, and calls all of us to reclaim our heritage. Homosexuals were revered by society in earlier times, but Christian's research shows that it was through us that a homophobic patriarchal society inevitably developed. As he was saying to me yesterday, it's through us that the matriarchy can return. Empowering women and the feminine side in all of us means that wars will end, peace can rise again, and love will abound. So if you think Shaken, Not Heard is about a bunch of gay men putting themselves up on the cross, think again. Be there for an experience that will change lives. And bring Kleenex. K
A triumphant previewApril 19, 2009It’s a yellow wood-frame country church in Marietta with a gravel driveway flanked by an old cemetery. While it’s believed that a church of some kind has existed on the site since Civil War times, the present building dates from the turn of the last century. And it used to belong to the Methodists. Not exactly the location you might expect for a gay men’s chorus concert. But last evening, 46 members of AGMC gave a preview performance of “Shaken, Not Heard” in this charming space, now home to the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation. We weren't quite sure what to expect from this very small church in the woods, except a group of open-minded individuals who no longer follow the teachings of traditional Protestants. How would a congregation of predominantly straight people respond to an emotionally charged piece about gay men and religion? Well, “Shaken, Not Heard,” as we hoped, was exactly the story of struggle, triumph, and self-love that we had hoped it would be. The evening was replete with cheers, laughter, celebration and gospel clapping (after all, there has to be one tune for that in a show like this). It was also met with three standing ovations from the 75 people in attendance. What more could we ask? No, it wasn’t the Cathedral, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, Symphony Hall, the Alliance Theatre or any of our usual fabulous venues – nor will it be this weekend when we give the formal premiere of this powerful event at Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur. But Oakhurst, like Emerson, is unique, fabulous and beautiful in decidedly more important ways. These spaces represent amazing people – people who’ve had their own fill of being judged and marginalized. They, too, have triumphed in the search for authenticity, and our appearances in these houses are as much about celebrating them as they are ourselves. By stripping away the lights, costumes, orchestra and pomp, AGMC gets very close to the earth this weekend, pouring its heart, soul and spirit into a piece that many are calling brilliant and inspired. After last night, I am convinced more than ever that these performances are not to be missed. It's for these reasons, my friends, that I do this for a living. And I am so blessed…well, I just can’t tell it all. K
Shaken, Not Heard: The homestretchApril 16, 2009After a rehearsal last evening I checked my messages and found a voicemail from Christian de la Huerta. We had not spoken in quite a while, mainly because he has spent the last month relocating from San Francisco to Miami. He offered his personal reaction to the final version of the script that we’ll be performing from next week. In his words, what we’ve created is “brilliant, comprehensive and embodies the experiences that so many of us have had.” He added that he hopes to make it through his role as narrator without crying. This was great to hear – especially as we move into the hectic rush of the final week. From the very beginning, Christian has been a supporter of “Shaken, Not Heard” and has been committed to this project every step of the way. I am personally grateful to him for his willingness to join with AGMC next weekend on this powerful journey. I first met Christian in San Francisco in the mid 90’s when my good friend Robb took me to one of his classes. In it, we used some very powerful breathing techniques to reconnect with past experiences and to heal old emotional wounds – especially those created by having grown up in a strict religious environment. I was deeply affected by this work and looked forward to more. A few years later I attended a retreat in San Anselmo, CA, with Christian and five other gay men. After some weekend soul searching, talking about my experiences and expressing my desire to help others, a question was raised: “Why are you not pursuing your important calling to be a leader in the community?” At that time my relationship with GALA choruses was new and while Christian and I spoke briefly about them, I had no idea I’d soon become the assistant conductor of the L.A. chorus, take a tour of South America with them, or one day take the helm of AGMC. I am thrilled to reconnect with Christian next weekend and look forward to bringing to life the power and spirit of “Shaken, Not Heard.” I know you will want to join us. The healing begins April 24. K Summer news in the homestretch for spring concertApril 10, 2009This season is almost overwhelming to me. Just as we are about to launch our spring concert series, we receive wonderful news about chorus patron and former board member Harry Knox (who spoke at our clergy event on March 31) as well as an exciting development in our summer concert plans. If you know Harry, or at least who he is, you know that he is a remarkable man who is doing wonderful work for the gay community in his role as Director of the Religion and Faith Programs for the HRC. Harry has been an avid supporter of AGMC and has been particularly supportive of our spring concert event, Shaken, Not Heard. Just after speaking at AGMC’s dialogue for clergy, Harry was appointed to President Obama’s 25-member advisory council that’s part of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Obama established the office in February with a broader mission than the one overseen by President Bush. Obama said the new office, which he created by executive order, would reach out to organizations "no matter their religious or political beliefs." Some Catholics are calling our friend Harry a bigot. If being critical of a pope that doesn’t see condoms as a viable preventative of HIV means you’re a bigot, then I suppose he is. Some have said they’d rather not see the president even have the council if it means that people like Harry are going to be on it. Well, of course they wouldn’t. They would rather continue to see the government caught up in right-wing conservative religious beliefs that undermine the rights of not only LGBT’s, but people from all walks of life. AGMC is proud of the efforts that Harry continues to support and are thrilled that our new president has seen the benefits of having a diverse group of leaders on this council. Harry, we congratulate you and wish you the best! In other news, AGMC has just learned that our summer concert, Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn will be an official event in the 2009 National Black Arts Festival. Go to our homepage to read more about this event, which will feature special guests Donzaleigh Abernathy and Larry Strayhorn, nephew to the late composer. Billy was the driving force behind the music of Duke Ellington (did you know that a gay man wrote “Take the A-Train”?) and was a staunch supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement. AGMC is proud to be counted among the many great events that the National Black Arts Festival sponsors. With their support and that of Macy’s, the official sponsor of Lush Life, AGMC is poised to finish this season on a grand note. What on earth will we do next season? Well, here’s a sneak peak: Our annual holiday concert at the Cathedral of St. Philip (featuring some special guests that we are currently working to secure); a spring concert tour of Alabama and Georgia, benefitting LGBT organizations on college campuses; and…drum roll…a tribute to the music of the Beatles. We’ve been fortunate to have been given clearance by Hal Leonard to create this tribute that will feature many Beatles tunes exactly as they were originally scored. It’s a very exciting time in the life of AGMC and while this economy might be getting some organizations down, we are vibrant, alive, and moving forward in ways I would have never thought possible when I came on board two years ago. As Billy Strayhorn often said, “Ever up and onward!” K
Gay Community Strikes Gold at Otherwise Forgettable OscarsFebruary 24, 2009Oscar speeches. They range from poignant (Forest Whitaker) to inspired (Roberto Benini) to unintelligible (Halle Berry). And of course, most of them are longer than a country Baptist prayer list. But there are rare instances when you hang on every word that a winner says. A decade ago, one might not have expected this to be the case with Sean Penn, but Sunday night, the star of Milk could have commanded the stage as long as he wanted. "I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame...if they continue that way of support," he said in his acceptance speech. "We've got to have equal rights for everyone." Spot on, Sean, but not everyone agrees. Apparently there was a bit of a snag in the red-carpet on Sunday, thanks to an unscheduled appearance by the Phabulous Phred Phelps Phamily. If you'll allow me to digress briefly: The Phelps' apparently decided to picket the Oscars after a failed attempt at traveling to the UK to protest a staging of The Laramie Project last Thursday. After posting their plans to go to Europe on their website (which included malicious language about the Queen) they were not granted visas. "Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behavior by inciting hatred against a number of communities," a U.K. Border Agency spokesperson told the London Telegraph last week. "The Government has made it clear it opposes extremism in all its forms. We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country." I'm not sure what's more inspiring here: Penn's speech or Britain's stance on people like Phelps. But back to the Oscars. Amidst a string of new attempts at presentation (by the Ghosts of Christmas Past as one reviewer noted), a medley of movie songs that gave new meaning to the term non sequitur, and the blasphemous interspersion of former winners right in the middle of the official clips from each of this year’s best picture nominees, there was another memorable moment. A young man who grew up Mormon took home an award for all of us when Dustin Lance Black won the Oscar for Best Screenplay. I had no idea who he was, but when this 34-year old man took the stage, I was captivated. Black said he first heard the "life-saving" story of Harvey Milk when he moved to Los Angeles at age thirteen. Who knew that one day he’d be writing for HBO's Big Love which would give him the clout to approach Gus Van Sant about directing Milk? "If Harvey had not been taken from us thirty years ago, I think he would have wanted me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are 'less than' by their churches or by the government or by their families that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures that are valued. And no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and very soon, I promise, you will have equal rights - federally - across this great nation of ours." What more could be said? Here ends the writing of the blog. Thanks be to Sean, Dustin...and Harvey. K Stardate 10101.21January 21, 2009Between parties on inauguration day, I stopped by OutWrite Books to write my weekly column to the chorus. I plopped down on the sofa next to a cute lesbian who was reading "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama. I sipped my latte and took off the little black hat that warms my bald pate in this bitter cold. Philip, the owner, had brought in his personal flat-screen TV so all patrons could enjoy the festivities. The energy in Atlanta's favorite gay bookstore was electric. The events of that day were amazing, but if you're like me, you may have found Sunday's celebration on HBO to be the most thrilling. To see the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., and to hear President-elect Obama use "gay & straight" in the same sentence as "black & white" was, in a word, amazing. Intended or not, it threw water on some recent quibbling in the LGBT community and gave us hope that he will not forget us. Don't get me wrong, while I think we have every right to protest Rick Warren's politics, I felt protesting our new president before he'd even been sworn in was a bit overstated. If we say that we want equality for all people, then we must really mean all people. Say what we like about Warren's motives and politics, but the gay community didn't exactly take the high road on this one, either. Even Bishop Robinson recanted after he realized he'd been on the invite list, apparently longer than Warren had. This debate, nonetheless, makes our upcoming concert all the more timely. Many gay men have reason to be put-out with organized religion, but experience has shown me that I will not change anything by being critical of it - much less by being it's victim. In "Shaken, Not Heard," we do not plan to whine about how we've suffered, but to simply express it, to own what has happened to us and to reclaim our rightful place in society as shamans, protectors and keepers of beauty. In so doing, we are able to exemplify the very things that organized religion seems to fall short of. While the economy casts a bleak financial outlook for organizations like ours, I remain hopeful. As our president says in his book, "Whether we're from red states or blue states, we feel in our gut the lack of honesty, rigor, and common sense in our policy debates, and dislike what appears to be a continuous menu of false or cramped choices. Religious or secular, black, white, or brown, we sense - correctly - that the nation's most significant challenges are being ignored, and that if we don't change course soon, we may be the first generation in a very long time that leaves behind a weaker and more fractured America than the one we inherited. Perhaps more than any other time in our recent history, we need a new kind of politics, one that can excavate and build upon those shared understandings that pull us together as Americans." Thank you, Mr. President. Please know that when the LGBT community seems critical of your choices, your policy or your vision, we, too are human. We've suffered, just as you have, at the hands of bigotry and oppression; but in the end, like you, we long for a world that is accepting of everyone. Anything less means that those who oppose us will never come to know us for who we truly are. We hope that throughout your time in office, you will accept our passionate, if not gentle, reminders of what you've promised to uphold. We are there for you. P.S. Tell Michelle we're also offering free advice on decorating your new home. K Launching the 28th SeasonDecember 14, 2008What a tremendous weekend we had at the Cathedral. The stunning performances by the chorus were met with the most enthusiastic responses we've seen in my time with them. Great moments, both onstage and off, were being recounted by our board, staff, and membership. Tears, smiles, reunions, and new beginnings were all part of a spectacular weekend. It made up for the weeks prior, which found the chorus a bit worried. With the economy's effect on artistic and non-profit groups nationwide, we were concerned about a downward turn in ticket sales. But when the doors of the sanctuary were opened at 8 p.m. on Friday, we knew we'd been wrong. As we proceeded down the aisle, it became clear that the spirit of the holidays had not been the victim of a recession. The house was virtually full. There had been quite a bit of advance buzz about our family matinee (complete with ice cream social), but we were still not sure what to expect in terms of an audience for the matinee on Saturday. At 2 p.m., just as the chorus left the choir room to make our way into the hall, our stage manager announced that we were holding for ten minutes because there was a line. It was the largest audience for a matinee that anyone can remember. Stoked by two great houses and two inspiring performances, the chorus was ripe for a home run that night. For logistical reasons, several pews are blocked off down front, and the side areas are never sold. But at the last minute they had to be opened up to accommodate the high-dollar ticket purchases at the door. Once again, a full house. Even with the wonderful payoff, the weekend was not about revenue for us. It was about making great music and reaching as many people as possible. At the holidays, married couples bring their children, their friends, people who aren't sure what they're getting into; chorus members invite co-workers, estranged family members and parents who may be seeing their son out for the first time. Because our audiences for this weekend are so diverse, we are able to have the greatest impact of our season in just two days. As Donna Burchfield, our newest board member, said in her rousing address to the audience, the arts are important – especially in times like these, and the mission of organizations like ours remains essential. More than ever, we need organizations like the AGMC. And you, our patrons, families, and friends, reminded us of that this weekend. Happy Holidays to you and yours from the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus. K Holiday Concert Preview at KSUDecember 8, 2008Our performance at Kennesaw State University yesterday was a stunning success! Our heartfelt thanks to Joe Meeks, dean of fine arts, for his invitation to become part of the Bailey Performance Center concert series. We are making plans for our appearance there to be an annual one, and look forward to working with Dean Meeks and Performance Center Manager Bobby Asher again in the future. The concert hall there is acoustically perfect, with lots of control over how live the sound can be. The men arrived at 10 a.m. for a two-hour rehearsal and found the staff at KSU had met every need and more. Their crew was professional and quite pampering of us. Our 3 p.m. performance was well-attended and well-received. In my time with the chorus, they have never sounded better than yesterday, and it was a great way to kick off our concert week. Click here to see a video clip from our performance at KSU. We hope to see you at the Cathedral! K Let My Hair Down? What Hair?November 22, 2008Greetings, Web travelers and welcome to our new website! I am thrilled with our new look and the way in which our information is organized. As with any website, this is a living document that will continue to be updated on a regular basis, so bookmark, shake well, and visit often. The chorus publishes a weekly newsletter for its members and key stakeholders and in each issue I write a column that either addresses chorus happenings, continues to motivate and support our membership, or focuses on reasons why we sing. Sometimes it's all of that. Many of our members have suggested we make some of my writing available to the public via the website, and I am happy to do so. I must admit, writing about what we do keeps my own energy high and is always a rewarding experience. I believe that our organization must operate in a manner consistent with the change we want to see in the world, and that means we must treat each other better than we've been treated ourselves. It means we must operate with clear rules and it means that we have to be willing to get below the surface of the music and the social time. To learn more about what we're doing in this regard, or to read excerpts from the weekly column, or just to learn more about how we operate, visit me on this page. I'm up late. Some members have suggested I let my hair down here, too. What? K |
Kevin Robison, AGMC Artistic Director BELLS IN BOYLAND HIGHLIGHTS Personent Hodie Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols Durufle: Ubi caritas Judah and His Maccabees Silver Bells Carol of the Bells O Come, All Ye Faithful Plus special holiday arrangements by The Atlanta Concert Ringers |
One of the highlights of the program, featuring both Coleman and Weisiger, will be Ralph Vaughan Williams’ work Fantasia on Christmas Carols – a tapestry of traditional English carols inspired by the composer’s work as an editor for the original "Oxford Book of Carols," which still remains the most comprehensive and authentic collection of European carols to date. Originally composed for mixed chorus and orchestra, Fantasia received its debut under the baton of the composer (pictured here) in 1912, shortly after he moved to Hereford. In 1925, this arrangement for male voices by Herbert W. Pierce was published. It is infrequently performed, compared to the original version, which has become a staple of holiday choral repertoire. 
On our Facebook page, we're posting every Thursday (our regular rehearsal day) reasons why we sing. Today's is not the happiest of reasons. This is a day filled with hues of purple, reminding us of the power that bullies can have over us – power that only we can give away or take back. Unfortunately, some young people haven't developed the strength to take that power back. Many don't even know they had it to start with. 
In March, the chorus moves to the campus of Emory University to celebrate a college tradition: the male glee club, taking our cues from the hit TV series that has revived and redefined this long-standing tradition of school choruses. In this stunning juxtaposition of male standards and contemporary tunes, the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus will present an entrée of collegiate favorites, but we’ll be sprinkling that collection with pop classics revived and revisited on a very popular television series. With hits like "Don't Stop Believin'," "A House is Not a Home," "Teenage Dream" and many other pop tunes heard on the show, the AGMC will celebrate the re-birth of some 300 high-school chorus groups as the result of what has become known as the "glee effect." The campus of Emory University provides the perfect backdrop, where the AGMC and its select ensemble Panache will present this unique tribute to traditional glee club music and modern vocal groups that are truly making a difference in high schools across the country. Join the AGMC as we get our glee on!!
Our summer concert is not to be missed. Be there as the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus celebrates the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Our creative team asked this question: Is this milestone a sign that our country is reaching the tipping point on the issue of marriage equality? To answer, we’ve created an inspired concert that explores our country's past, present, and future with folk music, hymns, jazz, and pop tunes that have all made their political marks in the landscape of American history. Hear patriotic tunes, settings of poetry by writers Langston Hughes, Chief Seattle, and the music of Paul Simon, woven into a tapestry as only the AGMC can. Like a bridge over troubled water, "Red White & You" calls for courage, determination, unity and asks (in what is certain to be a pivotal election year) an important question: What are our true colors? Don’t miss “Red White and You,” also on the campus of Emory University.
wonderful costumes for each concert. 
This week, the fruit of their labor will convene once again to bring you an exciting concert of some of the world's greatest music (see the program in the right column). We're taking on some very butch roles in this concert, playing sailors, hunters, soldiers, priests and maids. Wait...did I say butch?
admirably, which means that I, apart from the finishing touches, expect to get plenty of sleep this week. Thank you, my brothers, for all that you do, and thank you, our patrons, for understanding that we don't sing on love alone. Your support is everything. 
In October of 1981, a local gay newspaper reported, “The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus is yet another example of the growing significance of the gay community in the Southeast, and is one of the most positive signs of a healthy and vital spirit amongst us.”
It was a refreshing reminder of the fact that while our country appears to be stuck in reverse, things are also moving forward. Once again, we see the remote chance for the possibility of hope.
the band recorded – everything from Ringo’s back beat to Paul’s hammering of the guitar strings. Even though I couldn’t fully appreciate what I held in my hand, I knew that this collection was a tremendous gift that I hoped I’d one day put to good use.
2008 at the Cobb Energy Center performances of Divas and Dilemmas: Opera Our Way. Tonight, Wanda will perform arrangements of two beautiful folk songs from her native China, and may just steal the show with “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
It was that day that I met Susan Egan -- the Broadway star who originated the role of Belle in "Beauty and the Beast," and who went on to enjoy many other successes, including playing Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" longer than any other actress in Broadway history.
Mark left us two weeks ago, just as he was entering the homestretch of bringing our stage plan together. If he'd been given some magical choice, I've no doubt he would have asked for a stay so he could finish his work -- but not for himself or the recognition it would bring him, but so that none of his brothers would be inconvenienced or their spirits dampened. 
