Pride Guide 2000 GAY PE

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE R-15

Cleveland choruses prepare for a summer of song

by Jeff Woodard

Cleveland-Spring has sprung. The grass has riz. And among the scenic splendor of fabulous foliage blooms Cleveland's bestkept musical secret: the North Coast Men's Chorus. Experiencing rapid growth in the past two years under music director Richard Cole, Northeast Ohio's gay men's chorus now boasts a membership of 70-a threefold increase since the spring of 1998.

Playing before a near-sellout crowd at Cleveland State University's Waetjen Auditorium for its "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" concert April 1, the Chorus had little time to

ful experience for all," says Cole. "It is such a motivating experience. With this music is a powerful message of community, love and pride. The chorus will come back energized and will in turn give more to the community."

Last fall, with 50 in the fold, Cole's goal was 75 singing members and audiences of 1,000 within a year. Six months later, both milestones are within easy reach. The Chorus has traditionally performed its holiday shows in local churches, but the group has outgrown those venues, both in terms of staging and seating capacity. The entire 2000-01 season will be held in Waetjen Auditorium.

rest before preparations shifted into high Good Company gives in to temptation

gear for GALA Choruses Festival 2000 in San Jose, Calif.

The chorus traveled to Detroit on June 3 for a joint concert with the Detroit Together Men's Chorus that featured a preview of both groups' GALA programs.

Those two choruses, along with Cleveland's Good Company, will share the Waetjen Auditorium stage June 24 for "Touching Hearts, Changing Lives."

The invitational performance will serve as the Chorus' final tune-up before it heads to San Jose July 22-30 for Festival 2000—an eight-day, quadrennial celebration of music expected to draw 6,000 gay and lesbian singers from 125 North American, European and Australian choruses.

"Our trip to the GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association) Festival is going to be a wonder-

Festival 2000 wasn't initially in the plans of Good Company, Cleveland's 16member mixed group that performs a chamber choral repertoire. But temptation

won out.

"Not many of the GALA groups have a focus on classical repertoire the way we do," says music director Karen Weaver. "We decided it would be good to put our approach and focus out there."

Good Company's GALA program was chosen by consensus from a list of selections that the five-year-old ensemble has played.

"We're working on some of our favorites from the past couple of years," says Weaver. "It is both a challenge and a pleasure to rework and make even better some of the music we have already performed."

Four among Good Company's numbers

will pull double duty at GALA: First tenors Larry Crooks and Curtis Proctor and baritones Don Ferencz and Michael Joyce also sing with the North Coast Men's Chorus.

Windsong to sing at Garden Party

While not participating in GALA Festival 2000, Windsong has performed two concerts this season and will be singing at the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center's "Garden Party" fundraiser on July 30.

Soprano Amy Collins says Windsong, with a membership of “16 to 20,” will be accepting new members in the fall.

Good Company

In addition, the women's chorus is "researching the possibility of recording a CD in the next couple of seasons" and is focusing more on developmental issues and community involvement.

Preferring a variety of musical styles that challenge singers "on all ends," fourthyear director Sharon Marrell says Windsong's participation in the GALA Choruses Leadership Weekend in Washington, D.C., last Labor Day gave her a "big advantage in collecting music and helped bring our singers to another level of excitement."

Why do we have a Pride celebration each year?

by Rick Starn

Cleveland-Much time and effort go into creating a Pride Parade and Festival. As president of the Cleveland Pride Board for four years, I attend many meetings that occur for months prior to and after the event.

Hundreds of volunteer hours are needed to organize and execute this annual event. There are individuals in charge of vendors,

To some, it may be an exhilarating event to walk down the street of their city to let people know a little more about themselves.

entertainment, bar nights, corporate and individual donors, T-shirt sales, the web site, logistics, volunteers, the database, advertising, merchandise, media, graphics, setup, takedown, cleanup, etc. Our two coordinators, who receive a stipend for their efforts, guide these many volunteer hours.

Why do we do all of this work to create a yearly parade and festival that lasts for less than nine hours?

I think that there are many reasons. It gives the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community a chance to shine. A chance for us to let others see us. These "others" may be the non-gay community, or those who think they may be gay.

For some, it may be the first time they venture into an event where there are people similar to themselves. To some, it may be an exhilarating event to walk down the street of their city to let people know a little more about themselves. For some, it may be a day where they again see current friends, old friends and make new friends. Mothers and fathers bring their children. Grown children bring their parents. Entrepreneurs of the community let others see their merchandise and services. Community groups with specific interests let others know of their existence. People display their musical, artistic and other creative talents.

It's a day in the sun (hopefully) and a day to just relax and party. Nothing serious, except perhaps a few speeches at the rally and

signs in the parade. Nothing, that is, but a day for us the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

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Rick Starn is the board president of Cleveland Pride.

Sunday, October 1, 2000 CARILLON PARK AIDS WALK DAYTON

For more information call: 222-WALK

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Jane Miller, LISW

of D.L. Dunkle and Associates

Offices conveniently located

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or Toll Free,

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