History of the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus Historically, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) people have seldom had a “voice,” a comprehensive, recognized presence with full participation in the American culture. Today, however, GLBT choruses are flourishing. The Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA), the national support organization for GLBT singing groups, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008. The passage of New York State’s Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) and the rising success of the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus are just two examples of many developments changing history for the better. The BGMC idea was first conceived in 1999. Guided by Roger Parris (still one of our singers), a vigorous group of men worked throughout the coming year to make the BGMC organization a reality. With the support of the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus to encourage them, a steering committee consisting of a dozen dedicated members had written the by-laws and incorporation papers, held fundraisers for seed money, agreed on a mission statement, elected officers and directors and (after a thorough search) hired Barbara Wagner as BGMC’s Artistic Director. She, in turn, arranged the appointment of Debi Overton as our charter accompanist. Both women are highly respected musicians. Barbara Wagner is now one of only two female conductors of over 150 gay men’s choruses in the United States and Canada. Auditions were held in May 2001, with 36 chorus members on board after the first day. Soon there were over 50. Rehearsals began on September 11, 2001, a day of shock and sadness throughout our land. The difficult decision to go forward with the rehearsal, despite the tragedy of that day, proved to have been wise. Forty men, many not knowing each other, gathered in an eerie silence. As they and Ms. Wagner held hands for the first time in a community circle, there were anguished murmurs of meditation, grief and prayer. They sang ….(From you I receive, to you I give, together we share and from this we live”). They learned that long-lived and classic American hymn, “How Can I Keep From Singing?”. It remains to this day the Chorus theme song and a continuing reminder for its members of mutual family togetherness and inspiration that the Chorus always aspires to attain. It was the processional music at the opening of BGMC’s first public concert (“Music From the Heart”) on February 9, 2002. The men of the Chorus, singing this music with feeling and intensity, strode down the aisles of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Buffalo, with uninvited (but welcome) television news cameras recoding the event. The audience that night was huge – the Church was filled, chairs lined the aisles and, sadly, people had to be turned away at the door. All concerts after that were offered twice in each performance weekend until, some years later, the Chorus began presenting three times in the weekend and, for a short time, three weekend presentation each year rather than just two. Audiences continue to be large, diverse and enthusiastic. BGMC History Continued... |