December 1 & 2, 2012
Program Notes
The holidays…they’re all about family. This year, Windy City Gay Chorus and Aria invite you into “our home” for Wholly Family — our 2012 holiday concert that explores and embraces a myriad of possibilities of what family is and what family means to us all. Through the magic of music that is altogether soul stirring and soul searching, we’ll explore the memories and anticipations…the trials and triumphs that touch every heart and hearth this time of the year. But you’d better watch out — we just might expand your idea of what family is! Whether it’s Christmas, Hannukah, or Kwanzaa you celebrate, you’re going to experience the holidays in a wholly new way.
• WINDY CITY GAY CHORUS •
Founded in October, 1979, Windy City Gay Chorus is the oldest gay chorus in Illinois and the Midwest, and one of the first gay choruses organized in the country. WCGC is a founding member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA). WCGC’s first performance was in December of 1979, at the “Don We Now” holiday concert at Stages Music Hall. Windy City Gay Chorus has performed in cities throughout the country, and has been lauded by the Illinois House of Representatives, the mayors of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago mayors Richard M. Daley and the late Harold Washington. Now in its 34th season, WCGC has been a long-standing and well-established beacon in Chicago’s LGBTQA community, and a recognized name in choral arts circles throughout the country. Under the direction of Stephen C Edwards since 2009, the chorus has taken on renewed enthusiasm, and a commitment to performing music that is as challenging at it is entertaining.
• ARIA •
Aria was formed in 1996 as the small, women’s ensemble of Windy City Performing Arts and Unison: Windy City Lesbian and Gay Singers. Aria quickly became an audience favorite at concerts and special appearances, performing at GALA Festival 2000 in San Jose to rave reviews. In 2006, Aria became a full-fledged chorus and currently identifies itself as Windy City’s “Treble Chorus”, on occasion including male singers. Aria embraces its role as a totally inclusive chorus, singing music that not only entertains, but reminds us of our diversity.
• WINDY CITY PERFORMING ARTS •
Embedded in the spirit of every performance and outreach event that our choruses participate in is our Mission Statement: Windy City Performing Arts celebrates diversity, honors creativity, and cultivates pride through the transformative power of music and the arts.
Windy City Performing Arts 