Monday, 12/8/08

POST-HOLIDAY CONCERT THOUGHTS

It certainly was an incredible concert weekend. Two of our three performances of our holiday show baby, it's GAY outside! sold-out and it looks like it will be the best-selling holiday concert in GMCW's 28 year history. Thanks to everyone who came to support us. It seemed like you were having a great time. I wrote to the singers this morning that I am jealous that I don't get to see the joy on the audience faces during our shows. But the gift I receive is to be able to see the joy on the faces of our singers as they perform. It has been a busy fall and while GMCW has 4 full-time staff, and several part-time staff on the artistic team, much of the work we do is done by chorus volunteers. It starts with our volunteer Board of Directors who are a wonderfully supportive group of people from the chorus and community. The volunteerism continues with our chorus leadership — our chorus president, 2 vice-president and nine section leaders; our youth outreach chair and his committee, our marketing committee, our artistic advisory committee, our production team led by our executive producers, our costume designer, our costume-makers, our set builders, our property master, our dancers, our small ensembles — Potomac Fever and Rock Creek Singers, our house manager, our backstage help, and our merchandise mavens. This represents many, many thousands of volunteer hours to make it all work. GMCW is an incredible organization.

I am pleased to announce that we had a major increase in our FREE TICKETS FOR YOUTH PROGRAM — more than 160 students and chaperones from 17 schools received free tickets to baby, it's GAY outside!, a 100% increase from our most successful year. That is wonderful.

We expanded our work for the community as well. In addition to our full-year chorus volunteer program in the kitchen at Food & Friends, and conducting our holiday toy drive for the 11th year, we began a ONE WARM COAT program, collecting hundreds of winter coats for those in need. We look forward to continuing these programs.

The chorus is a lot more than singing. It is a community of wonderful men and women who sing and work to promote change.

One final announcement. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. If you came to the concert or have a comment to make, please go to www.gmcw.org/contact_us where you can comment by online form or by email. We can learn from what you have to share with us.

Happy holidays to all.

Jeff