Monday, 6/29/09

We have concluded our 28th season and I have never been more proud of GMCW.

Our community outreach program continues to grow, as our members participate in new events and activities. From collecting winter coats during the holiday season to volunteering at Food & Friends, to performing karaoke with senior citizens, our non-singing outreach touches the community in ways we couldn’t have imagined.

Our small outreach ensembles Potomac Fever and Rock Creek Singers sang more outreach gigs than ever before.

Our Tickets for Youth program has existed for 7 seasons, but this year it grew by leaps and bounds into our GenOUT program. For the first time in our history we gave a free performance of one of our shows, everything gAy to Z, exclusively for high school and college students, their teachers and parents. While the chorus was singing, dancing, and donning outrageous costumes, we were also educating the students (and some of our singers) about the past 40 years of gay culture and history, including the AIDS Project Memorial Quilt, Harvey Milk, Frank Kameny, Stonewall and many other stops along the gay alphabet. During these past 7 years I have often commented about how my life would have been changed if I had attended a gay men's chorus concert when I was in high school. The comments from the high school students were amazing:

"This was my first time attending a performance by GMCW, and enjoyed every second of it. My favorite moment of the entire concert was...M...for marriage. I loved when the couples came out onto the stage together and were praised for being themselves. At that moment I was very teary-eyed. To see someone have something they always wanted, and have the chance to get it is overwhelming and should be celebrated by all. This moment in the concert made me think that if we as a people continue to fight for the right of all equal rights (especially marriage), there will be a law to protect us and allow us to live as all human beings should live. One major thing I have taken away from this concert is that you don't have to hide yourself and follow the "norms"; all you got to do is live your life free. Free of stress, free of worry. And remember why you're living your life...HAPPINESS. I can't wait for the next concert by the GCMW, because my LGBTQA organization on campus will definitely be there (…) For someone who just came out two years ago, I am learning that change is the only constant, and each day changes our lives as a people."

Capital Pride was very special this year. We wore our White Knot ribbons (whiteknot.org) in support of gay marriage equality as we sang Marry Us, a plea for equality for all people.

Musically, we charted new territory in June as we performed Through a Glass, Darkly which tackles the often unspoken issue of crystal meth addiction. This was perhaps the most important and most powerful show that GMCW has ever produced. I look at this show as a landmark event for our group — one of our proudest moments ever. GMCW had the honor of spending time with composer and lyricist Michael Shaieb.

On July 20th we will be singing the National Anthem at "gay night out at the Nationals" for the 4th season in a row. Returning to the Nationals' Stadium, and singing from the infield to thousands of folks attending the game is always an inspiring event. The support that we receive every year from the crowd is incredibly heartwarming.

We are proud to be taking our show on the road as we repeat our March show everything gAy to Z at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. We return to JMU for the second time giving a performance to benefit the Shenandoah Valley AIDS Network.

While our singers are on summer hiatus, I am putting the final touches on next season, one you will find more entertaining that you could ever imagine. From the mini-musical Snow White and 175 Faeries in December; to a new men’s chorus version of the Johannes Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes in February; to a fully-staged production of the Broadway musical Grease in March; to Fever, with Potomac Fever, Rock Creek Singers and Brotherly Love (from the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus) in May; to Divas with special guest Christopher Peterson (the foremost female impersonator) in June. This will be the year to SEE THEM ALL. Our new 5-show subscription plan is amazingly inexpensive. And our new 3/30<30 plan is unheard of in arts organizations — if you are under 30 years old you can attend any 3 shows for $30.

If you have never seen a GMCW show before, next season is the time to begin.

I wish everyone a happy and safe summer. See you in the fall.

Jeff