This article contains content that is written like an advertisement .(October 2019) |
Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus | |
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Also known as | MGLC |
Origin | Melbourne, Australia |
Genres | Broadway, choral, classical, jazz, popular |
Occupation | Choir |
Instrument | ca. 100 voices |
Years active | 1990-present |
Members | Musical Director Stephanie Teh Assistant Musical Directors Emily Cook Ben Lee shOUT Youth Chorus Musical Director Christopher M. Harley shOUT Youth Chorus Musical Director Stella Butzkueven Lauren Abrahams |
Website | www.mglc.org.au |
Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus (MGLC) was founded in Australia in 1990 by Lawrence McGuire (1966). The chorus was first named 'Alsounds', due to its part affiliation with the Foundation. [1] In April 1994, the name was changed to Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus, reflecting the chorus's organizational independence and a desire to further challenge stereotypes.
The first gay choir in Australia was Human Nature, an all-male, Sydney-based chorus. It began in 1981, and disbanded c. 1997. [2] McGuire, unaware of the Sydney group, learned of the existence of gay choruses while listening to an LP record, The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Tours America 1981, at a party. Inspired by the discovery, McGuire, along with his roommates (including his sister, Kathleen McGuire, and gay friend Tuck Wah Leong), [3] discussed the notion of forming a gay and lesbian choir in Melbourne. McGuire wanted to form a choir specifically with gay men and women in an effort to unify these sometimes-divergent groups. AIDS had already caused much devastation in the gay community, and he believed that a choir would help to lift spirits and be a positive expression against homophobia. [4] With a small group of men and women, both gay and straight, the first rehearsal was held on April 28,1990 at St Luke's Anglican Church in South Melbourne.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir (SGLC) began less than a year later in January 1991, independent of the Melbourne chorus. Rob Holland founded SGLC in response to the lack of Australian representation in the Cultural Festival of the Vancouver Gay Games, held in August 1990. [5]
Since then, many choirs with an LGBT focus have formed in Australia and also in New Zealand:
MGLC's first musical director was Trevor Dunn. Dunn, who was a music teacher at Kilbreda College, a Catholic girls' high school in Mentone, directed the group for a number of years before succumbing to AIDS in 1992.
Following a series of short-term conductors, Tuck Wah Leong took the helm as musical director in about 1994 and directed the MGLC's award-winning first CD and its first international tour. [6]
In 2001, MGLC appointed conductor Adrian Kirk, under whose direction the chorus developed a more sophisticated, classical sound. [7]
Jonathon Welch AM - of the renowned operatic trio Tenor Australis, and former conductor of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir - served as MGLC's Musical director from 2005 to 2007.
Darren Wicks was the musical director for 2008.
In 2009, Adrian Schultz, the director of the Youth Chorus, was appointed musical director and served until July 2013. Subsequently, he served as guest conductor of the Youth Chorus for the Christmas concert in 2014 and on multiple occasions since.
Ben Leske was appointed musical director of the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus (now known as shOUT) [8] in 2009 and led the Youth Chorus until early 2015, for its first major performance, The Sound of Youth (2010), and during a period of significant growth in its membership. In November 2017, Ben graduated with a Ph.D. in Music Therapy from the University of Melbourne. The focus of the Ph.D. was choir leadership, inspired by his interest in the well-being of members of the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus. [9]
Dr Kathleen McGuire served as interim musical director in 2009 and then served as musical director from 2013 to 2015. She also conducted MGLC at Trevor Dunn's memorial service in 1992 and at several annual AIDS memorial services at St Mark's Anglican Church in the early 1990s.
Drew Downing was appointed as musical director in 2015.
Stephanie Teh, long time member and Assistant Musical Director from 2011 to 2020, was appointed Musical Director in 2021.
Since its inception, the MGLC has provided support and outreach to the GLBTI community. Examples of regular community appearances include: World AIDS Day ceremonies and services for the People Living With AIDS; Midsumma Pride March and performances at the Victorian Pride Centre. MGLC are also regular participants in the Out and Loud Choral Festival.
In August 2005, MGLC founded the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus, the first chorus of its kind in Australasia.
The inaugural Youth Chorus musical director was Gudula Kinzler.
Gudula, a German citizen, was in Australia for a few years and has now returned to Germany, where she is the musical director of Die Rheintochter, a mixed women's choir, based in Cologne, Germany.
They perform their own major stand-alone performances and also join with the main chorus at numerous events.
They recorded their first CD, Count Me In, in 2008.
In November 2015, MGLYC formally changed its name to shOUT Youth Chorus. The members felt that it was important to re-brand in such a way that recognizes the Youth Chorus's inclusion of people of diverse genders and sexualities.
shOUT welcomes young people of all types and celebrates that diversity.
MGLC is an affiliate member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses) and a member of the Australian National Choral Association.
The Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses is an international association of LGBT choruses founded in 1982. In its inaugural performance 14 choruses performed together in September 1982 in San Francisco as part of the first Gay Games. It aims to foster artistic and organizational development within its member choruses. The association includes almost 10,000 vocalists in over 100 associated choruses singing as male, female and mixed ensembles in a wide variety of styles. GALA Choruses produces a large festival every four years, in addition to a number of smaller annual workshops and conferences.
The Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus (PGMC) is a choral organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1981, it is one of the oldest gay men's choruses in the United States, and is a cultural fixture in Philadelphia. The Chorus is affiliated with the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA). The Chorus has performed with the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, Anna Crusis Women's Choir, Phialdelpha Voices of Pride (PVOP) and has participated in several GALA festivals. The chorus is currently under the artistic direction of Michael Semancik, who is serving as the interim Artistic Director following the retirement of Joseph J. Buches after 20 years of service.
The 1st World Outgames took place in Montréal, Quebec, Canada from July 26, 2006, to August 5, 2006. The international conference was held from July 26 to the 29. The sporting events were held from July 29 to August 5.
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Bennett William Macpherson is an Australian conductor who received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2002 for his services to music as a conductor and choirmaster.
The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC) is a choral organization in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1983 with 55 singers, the chorus currently consists of approximately 150 singing members and over 200 members in total.
The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) is the world's first openly gay chorus, one of the world's largest male choruses and the group most often credited with creating the LGBT choral movement.
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Diverse Harmony is an American youth chorus based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2002, it is the first Gay-Straight Alliance youth chorus in the United States. Today, Diverse Harmony is an LGBTQ-Ally youth chorus, and their stated mission is "to create a safe, affirming environment where everyone is accepted for who they are." In addition to singing members, the chorus has an extensive support network of volunteers, subscribers, and donors; they are also a non-profit organization. Diverse Harmony is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses, and was the first youth chorus to participate in a GALA Choruses Festival. The chorus appeared in the independent film Why We Sing, which has been screened at LGBT film festivals and on PBS stations across the United States.
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Golden Gate Men's Chorus (GGMC) is a gay men's chorus founded in 1982 and located in San Francisco. The GGMC is a group of 50 ethnically and socially diverse gay and gay-supportive men. The GGMC presents spring, summer, and winter programs annually, in addition to numerous guest and community benefit performances throughout the year.
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