DEAR FRIENDS,
Topics this month:
- In The Mood - details about our October 24/25 concert
- Puna Men's Chorus - read about my trip to Hawaii!
Fun & Frivolity Set The Tone For Ensembles Concert
San Francisco Debut of Special Guests, Captain Smartypants
Revitalized with new blood and fresh from ovation-winning performances in Miami over the summer, the chorus’ ensembles - The Lollipop Guild and Vocal Minority - return to the Brava Theater on Friday, October 24, 8pm and Saturday, October 25, 2pm and 8pm, to present the 4th annual ensembles concert: In The Mood. The mood will definitely be upbeat if not downright frivolous and risqué. If you think ‘Saturday Night Live meets Chanticleer,’ you’ll have a good idea of what’s in store!
Members of Vocal Minority have been preparing under the guest direction of Stephanie Lynne Smith (best known for her work with the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco) perfecting their hilarious adaptations of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Love Train and Mighty Mouse. Known for its arresting a cappella arrangements, The Lollipop Guild, under the direction of Paul Saccone, will dazzle with divinely harmonious interpretations of classic hit songs including Ghost Riders, Africa, Danny Boy and Up The Ladder To The Roof.
Sharing the stage with The Lollipop Guild and Vocal Minority will be special guests Captain Smartypants (pictured left) - the acclaimed ensemble of the Seattle Men’s Chorus - under the direction of one of the nation’s foremost queer composers and humorists, Eric Lane Barnes. Long-time fans of SFGMC will recognize his name as we've performed many of his hilarious works over the years, including the recent "Gay Vs. Straight Composers" at Davies Symphony Hall in May.
Purportedly “discovered by Madame Curie in 1913 as she was emptying a test tube,” the radioactive slime sprouted legs and morphed into “nine homosexuals who won’t stop singing,” (AKA Captain Smartypants) according to the group’s website.
Captain Smartypants will perform “witty, pretty ditties, as well as the kind of side-splitting songs that make it advisable to bring a spare pair of panties,” said the irreverent Barnes, referring to “songs like our version of Something Stupid featuring quotes from Dubya and recently updated, by popular demand, with fresh fodder from McCain and Palin.” A hauntingly beautiful arrangement of the Dead Can Dance hit, The Carnival Is Over, will reveal the ability of Captain Smartypants to add touching as well as humorous moments to their San Francisco debut.
Special discounts are offered to members of GALA Choruses, and a $10 ticket is also offered for the matinee to unwaged audience members. For discounts, contact the box office: boxoffice@sfgmc.org, ph: 415-865-2787.
Photo opp at Puna Men's Chorus retreat, Sat. Sept. 27, 2008
Members of Vocal Minority have been preparing under the guest direction of Stephanie Lynne Smith (best known for her work with the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco) perfecting their hilarious adaptations of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Love Train and Mighty Mouse. Known for its arresting a cappella arrangements, The Lollipop Guild, under the direction of Paul Saccone, will dazzle with divinely harmonious interpretations of classic hit songs including Ghost Riders, Africa, Danny Boy and Up The Ladder To The Roof.
Sharing the stage with The Lollipop Guild and Vocal Minority will be special guests Captain Smartypants (pictured left) - the acclaimed ensemble of the Seattle Men’s Chorus - under the direction of one of the nation’s foremost queer composers and humorists, Eric Lane Barnes. Long-time fans of SFGMC will recognize his name as we've performed many of his hilarious works over the years, including the recent "Gay Vs. Straight Composers" at Davies Symphony Hall in May.Purportedly “discovered by Madame Curie in 1913 as she was emptying a test tube,” the radioactive slime sprouted legs and morphed into “nine homosexuals who won’t stop singing,” (AKA Captain Smartypants) according to the group’s website.
Captain Smartypants will perform “witty, pretty ditties, as well as the kind of side-splitting songs that make it advisable to bring a spare pair of panties,” said the irreverent Barnes, referring to “songs like our version of Something Stupid featuring quotes from Dubya and recently updated, by popular demand, with fresh fodder from McCain and Palin.” A hauntingly beautiful arrangement of the Dead Can Dance hit, The Carnival Is Over, will reveal the ability of Captain Smartypants to add touching as well as humorous moments to their San Francisco debut.
Special discounts are offered to members of GALA Choruses, and a $10 ticket is also offered for the matinee to unwaged audience members. For discounts, contact the box office: boxoffice@sfgmc.org, ph: 415-865-2787.
PUNA MEN'S CHORUS
A new 'brother' chorus for SFGMC
A new 'brother' chorus for SFGMC
Photo opp at Puna Men's Chorus retreat, Sat. Sept. 27, 2008As the "grandfather" of the gay choral movement, SFGMC has long felt a responsibility and desire to work with new choruses that might benefit from our 30 years of experience. In turn, by working with new organizations we benefit from the invigoration of new ideas and enthusiasm and through serving our mission as San Francisco's ambassadors. In an effort to formalize ways in which we might do this, we have begun to build a partnership with a new chorus in Hawaii.
Puna Men's Chorus was co-founded by SFGMC alumnus Daron Scarborough (pictured right) 18 months ago. Daron last sang with SFGMC in 2000, and then left his computer-focused job in the Bay Area to pursue the warm climes and black sands of Hawaii. He now works for an AIDS service organization, as well as conducting PMC. Daron has a music education degree and is a respected and well-loved leader in his new community. His energy, passion and strong musical ability (not to mention good looks!) bring people together in the "wild west" of Hawaii in a region that has become a popular alternative destination for gay men.
Daron reconnected with SFGMC to borrow some music from our library, and we started discussing ways in which our two organizations might work together. With SFGMC being the world's first gay men's chorus and PMC being one of the newest and the first chorus of its kind on the Big Island, and given our historic connection and physical proximity, we felt it would be a fruitful and rewarding relationship to pursue.
PMC rehearsal, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008
(yep, that's yours truly in the Hawaiian shirt)
As a first step, last weekend I flew out to Hawaii to participate in PMC's retreat and rehearsal, and also to meet with members of the PMC board to discuss "twinning" our organizations. The cost of the flight was shared between SFGMC and PMC. Puna is located on the south-east corner of the Big Island near Hilo, close to active lava flowing into the ocean (which I went to see by boat at dawn with Daron's brother Damon and a group of chorus men and their friends). I had a great time working with the chorus and made some wonderful new friends.
I also spent some invaluable time networking with Daron, sharing ideas and music. I was fortunate to be able to attend his rehearsal with a marimba ensemble and tyko drummers as they prepared some of Daron's fabulous arrangements. I was so taken with the music that I intend to include it in SFGMC's Pride Concert performance next June; some of the members of PMC are planning to come and join us for that concert, too!
Marimba ensemble rehearsal, Daron conducting (right)
PMC currently is preparing a collaborative, benefit concert for World AIDS Day (December 1) in Honolulu, Oahu, with the 20-year-old Honolulu Men's Chorus. Then, on December 5, the Honolulu Men's Chorus will travel to the Big Island and they will repeat the program together in Hilo. Both groups each consist of about 20 men. PMC's music selections are almost entirely from SFGMC's repertoire, including several movements from NakedMan, "I Shall Miss Loving You" from When We No Longer Touch, and recent favorites "Caravan of Love," and "Will I" from Rent.
Although small in number, the men make a wonderful sound together and have a lot of experience between them. They're capable of performing a wide variety of styles, from world music, to pop and show tunes, and classical repertoire. There are well-established, large, traditional men's choirs in Hawaii, but being the first and only chorus on the Big Island whose mission is to be a place of unity and healing for all men, irrespective of their orientation, poses such challenges for PMC as finding an audience, recruiting new members, and developing funds. The concerts in December, and the new relationship with SFGMC, promise to bring new visibility and growth to PMC.
Here are some comments I received from PMC re my visit:
I'm really sorry I wasn't there last Sat. because that woman was MAGIC!
-Don Boyd, Tenor 2
Thanks for organizing Kathleen to be here for the retreat and at Monday's rehearsal! I think everyone enjoyed her and hope that she can come back for a visit soon!
– Glenn Manaba, Tenor 1 and President of the Board
Having Kathleen here to work with us was truly a life altering experience. The growth in our group quality and individual commitment from just one short weekend has been outstanding. With the idea of a partnership between the Puna Men’s Chorus and SFGMC, I can better see the potential for changing this world we live in and I am looking forward to seeing more miracles happen around us.
– Daron Scarborough, Artistic Director
It was a great honor to work with PMC on behalf of SFGMC; I look forward to my next visit! We hope that the relationship that develops between our organizations will become a model to be adopted by other organizations within GALA Choruses.
Puna Men's Chorus was co-founded by SFGMC alumnus Daron Scarborough (pictured right) 18 months ago. Daron last sang with SFGMC in 2000, and then left his computer-focused job in the Bay Area to pursue the warm climes and black sands of Hawaii. He now works for an AIDS service organization, as well as conducting PMC. Daron has a music education degree and is a respected and well-loved leader in his new community. His energy, passion and strong musical ability (not to mention good looks!) bring people together in the "wild west" of Hawaii in a region that has become a popular alternative destination for gay men.Daron reconnected with SFGMC to borrow some music from our library, and we started discussing ways in which our two organizations might work together. With SFGMC being the world's first gay men's chorus and PMC being one of the newest and the first chorus of its kind on the Big Island, and given our historic connection and physical proximity, we felt it would be a fruitful and rewarding relationship to pursue.
PMC rehearsal, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008(yep, that's yours truly in the Hawaiian shirt)
As a first step, last weekend I flew out to Hawaii to participate in PMC's retreat and rehearsal, and also to meet with members of the PMC board to discuss "twinning" our organizations. The cost of the flight was shared between SFGMC and PMC. Puna is located on the south-east corner of the Big Island near Hilo, close to active lava flowing into the ocean (which I went to see by boat at dawn with Daron's brother Damon and a group of chorus men and their friends). I had a great time working with the chorus and made some wonderful new friends.
I also spent some invaluable time networking with Daron, sharing ideas and music. I was fortunate to be able to attend his rehearsal with a marimba ensemble and tyko drummers as they prepared some of Daron's fabulous arrangements. I was so taken with the music that I intend to include it in SFGMC's Pride Concert performance next June; some of the members of PMC are planning to come and join us for that concert, too!
Marimba ensemble rehearsal, Daron conducting (right)PMC currently is preparing a collaborative, benefit concert for World AIDS Day (December 1) in Honolulu, Oahu, with the 20-year-old Honolulu Men's Chorus. Then, on December 5, the Honolulu Men's Chorus will travel to the Big Island and they will repeat the program together in Hilo. Both groups each consist of about 20 men. PMC's music selections are almost entirely from SFGMC's repertoire, including several movements from NakedMan, "I Shall Miss Loving You" from When We No Longer Touch, and recent favorites "Caravan of Love," and "Will I" from Rent.
Although small in number, the men make a wonderful sound together and have a lot of experience between them. They're capable of performing a wide variety of styles, from world music, to pop and show tunes, and classical repertoire. There are well-established, large, traditional men's choirs in Hawaii, but being the first and only chorus on the Big Island whose mission is to be a place of unity and healing for all men, irrespective of their orientation, poses such challenges for PMC as finding an audience, recruiting new members, and developing funds. The concerts in December, and the new relationship with SFGMC, promise to bring new visibility and growth to PMC.
Here are some comments I received from PMC re my visit:
I'm really sorry I wasn't there last Sat. because that woman was MAGIC!
-Don Boyd, Tenor 2
Thanks for organizing Kathleen to be here for the retreat and at Monday's rehearsal! I think everyone enjoyed her and hope that she can come back for a visit soon!
– Glenn Manaba, Tenor 1 and President of the Board
Having Kathleen here to work with us was truly a life altering experience. The growth in our group quality and individual commitment from just one short weekend has been outstanding. With the idea of a partnership between the Puna Men’s Chorus and SFGMC, I can better see the potential for changing this world we live in and I am looking forward to seeing more miracles happen around us.
– Daron Scarborough, Artistic Director
It was a great honor to work with PMC on behalf of SFGMC; I look forward to my next visit! We hope that the relationship that develops between our organizations will become a model to be adopted by other organizations within GALA Choruses.
To learn more about Puna Men's Chorus, visit the website: http://punamenschorus.org/index.php
0 comments:
Post a Comment