June 1984
5 and Growing
The Chorus’s commitment to excellence was apparent just two months after its founding at the very first “Don We Now” concert, in December 1979. Continuous artistic growth enabled WCGC to host the First International Conference of Directors and Managers of Gay Choruses in May, 1981, and led to their highly acclaimed New York debut at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in February, 1982. This joint concert with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus emphatically established the Chorus’s reputation with New York critics.
Each year the WCGC presents three major concerts: in December, in the spring, and during Gay Pride Week. The Chorus also is proud to be a part of the Gay Pride Parade. In April, 1983, WCGC hosted the first gay chorus from outside Chicago to sing here when the BO-member Twin Cities Men’s Chorus shared the stage at the spring concert. In June, 1983 the Chorus presented Spirit of American Music with special guest artist Ginni Clemmens at the Civic Theatre.
There are also smaller performances – a free Christmas night concert is already a tradition, as is a more intimate, informal fall program. WCGC has provided entertainment at the Gay Academic Union Conference, and at the Greater Chicago Gay and Lesbian Democrats kick-off rally. The Chorus may be found presenting Christmas carols at local hospitals, in bars and police stations! The Chorus’s visibility beyond Chicago’s gay community is also increasing. It has sung at the Century Shopping Mall, and members performed at Yul Brynner’s 50th Anniversary Party at Arie Crown Theatre last year. The Chorus has given concerts at downtown theatres, at Mandel Hall (University of Chicago) and at several northside locations. Each year the Chorus goes on tour: Milwaukee in 1981, New York in 1982 and Indianapolis in July, 1983. The Chorus rejoined the Twin Cities Men’s Chorus at Minneapolis’s Orchestra Hall in April, 1984. In May, 1984 the Chorus won National First Place in the Johnny Mann Great American Choral Festival held in Columbus, Ohio. The Chorus has received a mayoral proclamation from Mayor Washington as well as from the mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis in support of their music. Plans also include a debut at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, participation in the ’86 National Choral Festival, more commissions of original works for male chorus, guest artists and a European tour in 1987.
Membership in the Chorus is gained by a short audition. Most of the members are not professional musicians, although they are expected to demonstrate musical growth at an annual re-evaluation. The Chorus shares members with the Chicago Symphony and Grant Park Choruses, the William Ferris Chorale, the Lyric Opera School and other prominent groups, but it also has members with affiliations to no other musical or gay organizations. The Chorus welcomes non-singing people who would like to help with productions in other capacities. If you would like to volunteer any sort of talent, whether musical or administrative, please call the Chorus at (312) 227-3853. We would like you to join us.
Windy City Performing Arts 