GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE November 1

Do you know the way to San Jose?

Ohio choruses sing their way to an international festival next summer

by Jeff Woodard

In any given chorus season, the strains and refrains of fellowship, camaraderie and spirituality ring loud and long. But this isn't any chorus season for Ohio members of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses.

From the shores of the North Coast, to the sprawling expanses of the Capital City, on down to the banks of the Ohio River, GALA singers are tuning up for more than the standard slate of concert preparations, entertaining performances and community involvement.

Somewhere over this season's rainbow lies San Jose, Calif., where the GALA Choruses will present its sixth international celebration of music: "Festival 2000: Eight Days of Singing and Celebration." More than 125 choruses comprising 6,000 singers from North America, Europe and Australia are expected to perform hundreds of concerts for more than 55,000 people during the eight-day extravaganza.

Participants will unite in song next July 2230 "to demonstrate the rich and stirring messages behind our music," said Kenneth Cole, GALA Choruses executive director. Many new works will be showcased as well as "everything from Bach to Broadway, opera to Abba, women's music, folk, gospel, country and soul." Most choral performances will take place in San Jose's Center for the Performing Arts and Civie Auditorium, while free community concerts will be offered in women's shelters, churches, museums and parks.

Ranking among the world's highest-profile performing arts events, GALA Choruses festivals are held every four years. Festival V in Tampa, Fla., drew 86 choruses, 26 small ensembles, 4,500-plus singers and 30,000 patrons.

Do Ohio choruses know the way to San Jose? The 1999-2000 season--and eight more months of California dreamin'--will point them in the right direction.

Columbus Gay Men's Chorus

The state's pre-eminent GALA chorus in sheer numbers, Columbus Gay Men's Chorus celebrates its tenth anniversary with 132 singing members. But talk to music director David Monseur, and you learn that "growth" is multidimensional.

"I feel our growth is demonstrated by the very large increase in requests to sing at various functions in the Columbus community," says Monseur. "We have experienced unforeseen requests from many, many church and religious organizations.

So much so, that Monseur has decided to form a small ensemble dedicated to performing "sacred literature."

The chorus marks its tenth anniversary by beginning its first full season in the 925-seat Southern Theatre.

"It's the perfect venue for smaller audiences," says chorus marketing director Terry Thompson. "It has an enormous history dat-

ing to the early 1900s, and

we are the

IGER WOODARD-

North Coast Men's Chorus second tenors Gary Mueller, Jerry Zak and Ralph Di Ludovico, left to right, at a recent rehearsal.

first gay resident organization of that facility."

Next weekend's season-opening show, "He's My Brother," will include recognition of the Columbus chorus's five co-founders: Doug Althauser, Kevin Cary, Bob Germain, Phil Martin and Jack Wisniewski.

Joint concerts with the Cincinnati Men's Chorus (June in Cincinnati; July in Columbus) will help both groups tune up for Festival 2000.

Muse Cincinnati Women's Choir

Not many choruses are preparing for Festival 2000 with a tour of England.

Muse is one.

As you read this, 22 of the nationally recognized group's 60 members are realizing a long-held dream of Muse founder and artistic director Catherine Roma. Highlights of the ten-day sojourn include an appearance in "Raise Your Banners: Festival of Political Songs" in Sheffield, as well as a benefit for women's shelters in London, where Muse will be joined by internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter Holly Near.

Muse's 1998-99 campaign featured 28 appearances and the release of their CD, Sing to the Universe Who We Are, before sold-out houses at St. John's Unitarian Church. Last spring, the group brought home top honors from the Third Annual Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards in New York City after Let Us Now Hold Hands won in the Classical category.

The 11th Annual St. John's Choral Concert Series Oct. 30-31 and the journey across the pond have Muse off to a flying start for 19992000.

Cincinnati Men's Chorus

From traditional holiday season fare to offbeat parodies such as Nutcracker: Men in Tights, the Cincinnati Men's Chorus has kept high-profile company under the baton of fifthyear music director Patrick Coyle. Over its first eight seasons, the chorus has grown to 85 singing members and has performed with guest artists such as Tony nominee Paula Myers, cabaret performer Ann Hampton Callaway and Disney artist Bill McKinley. Last year, Grammy Award-winning contemporary gospel artist Andrae Crouch appeared with the chorus.

The fortunes of the Cincinnati Men's Chorus brightened considerably when it began to receive grants three years ago, says chorus president Mark Johnson.

"We are also looking into adding a general manager so we can become an organization that has a board that's not made up of singing members," Johnson adds

Added to this season's agenda is a benefit Saturday night November 13 at the Emery Theater in Cincinnati. Joint performances with the Cincinnati Chamber Chorus, Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, Muse Cincinnati Women's Choir and the Lexington Men's Chorus have provided the Cincinnati Men's Churus with a wealth of growth opportunity. North Coast Men's Chorus

A microcosm of the rejuvenated city of Cleveland itself, the North Coast Men's Chorus has been on the grow the past two years. Doubling to 50 singing members since the 1997-98 season, the group is taking a more

Muse Cincinnati Women's Choir