DECEMBER, 2008

Happy Holidays!

This month's topics:

- NEW: Special Edition Double CD

- Guest conductors coming soon!

- Recent events in review: 30th anniversary concert; remembering Harvey Milk & George Moscone

LIMITED EDITION DOUBLE CD: CREATING HARMONY
We're pulling out all the stops this month to bring you a HOT OFF THE PRESS DOUBLE CD, produced in record time! The first half of our December 1 concert at Davies Symphony Hall will constitute one of the two CDs, which will be available for purchase at the Castro Theatre on December 24. The other CD is a compilation of highlights from throughout the 30th season. In all, the 26 tracks be a lasting memento of what has been a truly wonderful year for SFGMC. We're pressing only 1000 copies, so get yours soon - available on our website, too.

If you're reading this I know you're a special fan of SFGMC, so here is a sneak preview of the CD insert notes:

Creating Harmony features recordings of live performances held during the 30th season of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. The first choral organization in the world to openly identify as gay, SFGMC made its public debut on November 27, 1978. The Chorus’s illustrious history includes national and international tours in the world’s finest auditoriums, award-winning recordings, collaborations with celebrated artists, and a unique philanthropic focus on raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy causes. SFGMC’s 30th season included several sold out concerts in our hometown as well as appearances at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, an original DVD production (U.S.S. Metaphor), and numerous appearances in support of marriage equality. New works by gay composers were commissioned and premiered, several of which are included on this double-CD set. New World Waking! by Steve Schalchlin marked the triumphant finale of this memorable season. Performed with the Community Women’s Orchestra on World AIDS Day, 2008, New World Waking! comprises a suite of Songs On The Road To Peace, Inspired By John Lennon’s Piano. Schalchlin relates true stories of violence in the community and the world, calling upon each one of us to find a song that opens a door to peace. The suite’s timeless and hopeful message heralds the next chapter of SFGMC’s journey toward a better world for ALL people.

GUEST CONDUCTORS - COMING SOON!

If you've seen our fabulous brochure for SFGMC's 31st Season in 2009, you already know that I'm going on sabbatical! Like my predecessor, Dr. Stan Hill, did in his 9th season, I'm going away for several months to re-charge and re-fresh. During that time, some wonderful conductors will lead the Chorus. Two are from our own "backyard," and one will be coming to us from Texas! Here is some information about each of them. I hope you will support and applaud them, as I do, in their conducting debuts with SFGMC:

PAUL SACCONE - Home For The Holidays, Dec. 24, 2008 - Castro Theatre
Known for his versatility as a conductor, composer, arranger, and singer, Paul has appeared in concerts around the world. His work with SFGMC began five years ago; he serves as Assistant Conductor of SFGMC and as Music Director of SFGMC ensemble The Lollipop Guild. Paul's skills as a conductor, musical sensitivity, and ability to dynamically shape the sound of a chorus have earned him the highest respect of the singers and musicians with whom he works. Paul studied music at West Chester University and has performed under such esteemed composers and conductors as Robert Maggio and Paul Salumunovich.

CARL PANTLE - Seasons Of Love, First Annual Revue, Feb. 13 through 15, 2009 - Brava Theater Center
Carl is new to SFGMC, having started with us in November, 2008. Carl serves as Associate Artistic Director and Music Director of SFGMC ensemble Vocal Minority. Carl is an experienced singer and pianist, and has studied at Brigham Young University and SF Conservatory of Music. In addition to working with SFGMC, he is a staff pianist at SF Opera and pianist and Assistant Music Director of the opera program at SF Conservatory of Music. We are delighted to welcome Carl to our team.


DR. TIMOTHY SEELIG - TUNE IN, TURN UP, SING OUT: THE SPRING CONCERT, Davies Symphony Hall, Thu. May 21 - 8pm
Tim is a dear friend and mentor, and I am thrilled that he is taking time from his busy schedule to come and work with SFGMC in the spring. He is currently the artistic director in residence of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses, he teaches vocal pedagogy at Southern Methodist University, and is best known for the twenty years he directed the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, TX. Tim's daughter and her husband now live in San Francisco, and he is eager to spend more time with them. To read more about his many accomplishments, visit: www.timseelig.com

I will be back for the Pride Concert in June, and I look forward to seeing you all then.


RECENT EVENTS IN REVIEW

30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT, DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL, MON. DEC. 1, 2008
What a night it was! Act 1 began with the world premiere of Steve Schalchlin's New World Waking! Songs On The Road To Peace, Inspired By John Lennon's Piano. I was given the great honor of writing the choral and orchestral arrangements, so it was very exciting for me to see all of the various elements come together after months of work with SFGMC and the Community Women's Orchestra. Jennifer Holliday sang the finale: "My Rising Up." The photo here shows just how wonderful her high note was at the end!

Jennifer Holliday hits a high note while my jaw hits the floor!
Photo credit: Rick Gerharter

Act II was equally exciting, beginning with TV personality Jan Wahl introducing star of stage and screen, Piper Laurie. Laurie helped us to commemorate World AIDS Day, acknowledging our special concert partners and beneficiaries: Meals of Marin, Positive Resource Center, and Under One Roof. Award-winning Canadian songstress Kim Kuzma continued the World AIDS theme by dedicating the premiere of her new single, "Guardian Angels," to those who care for AIDS/HIV sufferers. Holliday returned with her signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls, also dedicating it to those who battle with the pandemic.

The program concluded with holiday selections celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, including three brand new arrangements created by SFGMC Principal Pianist Thaddeus Pinkston, long-time SFGMC member / box office manager Tony McIntosh, and assistant conductor Paul Saccone.

A surprise encore - the Hallelujah Chorus - incorporated a Proposition 8 protest from a group of "nuns". You really had to be there!

The program on Dec. 24 will include selections from the Dec. 1 program, plus some additional holiday music.

You can also catch New World Waking! in full - plus holiday music - in Santa Rosa on Saturday, Dec. 13 and in Santa Cruz on Saturday, Dec. 20. You can find more details on our website.


COMMEMORATING MILK & MOSCONE

The 30th anniversary of the assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone occurred on Thanksgiving Day. A special memorial was held the following day, November 28, 2008, beginning on the steps of City Hall. An estimated 1000 people gathered. The event began with a memorial concert featuring SFGMC performing several songs, including the world premiere of David Conte's "The Promise" and SFGMC alumnus L. Peter Deutsch's "Brethren and Lovers", both with texts by Walt Whitman. We also reprised "Thou Lord Our Refuge" by Felix Mendelssohn - the same piece the Chorus sang that fateful night 30 years ago when SFGMC made its first-ever public appearance. The ever-circling news helicopters were a challenge to our acoustic music, but added weight to the importance of the occasion.

Holly Near led the Chorus and audience in a sing-along of the song she wrong in response to learning of the assassinations: Singing For Our Lives.

Music was interspersed with remarks from friends and family of Milk and Moscone, including Jon Moscone, Stuart Milk, Harry Britt, Tom Ammiano, Carol Ruth Silver, and Willie Brown. Rafael Mandelman - president of the Harvey Milk Democratic Club - served as emcee.

The SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band directed by Drum Major (and SFGMC member) Kim Boyd joined SFGMC and members of the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of SF and GLAM Youth Choir in a rousing finale of "If My Friends Could See Me Now," then led a candlelight vigil up Market Street to the Castro. In the Castro, the crowd gathered at the location that was formerly Milk's camera store. Senator Mark Leno, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, and City Treasurer Jose Cisneros spoke to the crowd.

Having served on the small committee of community leaders who put this event together, I have to say it was one of my proudest moments to see it all come together. I share Harvey Milk's birthdate, so even though I never met the man, I feel a special affinity with him as I continue - through my work with SFGMC - to do what I believe Harvey would have wanted us to do.

Finally, here is a message I received from Stuart Milk a few days ago. What a fitting tribute it is as SFGMC reaches the end of its remarkable 30th Anniversary Season:

It was an honor to represent the Milk family and the Chorus brought a deepness of beauty, respect, harmony and dignity that could have come from nowhere else! You are all truly the medicine that the world needs!

Thank you with all my love,

Stuart