Pride Guide 2001

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE B-5

Première, sellout crowds mark Cleveland chorus season

by Jeff Woodard

Cleveland-Good Company music di-

rector Karen Weaver must know the secret to following the proverbial tough act.

"It's difficult to follow the performance at a GALA festival, but we're having a very exciting year nonetheless,” she says.

Good Company and the North Coast Men's Chorus attended the international Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses festival in San Jose, Calif., last summer.

Good Company is now considering development of a commissioned piece, and North Coast is growing rapidly and selling out concerts for the first time in its 13-year history. While Windsong, Cleveland's feminist chorus, didn't make the trip west, it's topping off the season with a première work at its June concert.

North Coast Men's Chorus

The stage has been getting pretty full at North Coast Men's Chorus concerts this season. So have the seats. Doubling to 80 singing members in the past two years, the chorus has played to full houses twice this season. "Boys in Toyland" packed Cleveland State University's 800-seat Waetjen Auditorium last December, and "Another Opening, Another Show," featuring favorite Broadway openers, did likewise March 31.

The group goes for a season sweep of sellouts at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 23 at CSU when it performs "Our Time" a time for pride, for reflection, for recollection.

Third-year music director Richard Cole will lead the chorus as it time-travels through our shared history, using favorite musical memories as milestones. Tickets are $12 in advance at www.tickets.com or 800-7666048; $15 at the door.

Due to increased ticket demand, the North Coast Men's Chorus plans to offer two performances of each concert next season at CSU.

"June is typically the time of year the LGBT community stops to take measure of its progress says chorus president Jeffrey

Lamkin. "Our upcoming concert is a remarkably effective vehicle for doing just that— for our family of supporters, as well as our members. What a journey we've been on, together, over the past few years. This really is 'Our Time.'

This special season has been highlighted by stories of personal breakthrough and selfacceptance from several of the chorus's many new members. The theme of GALA Festival 2000-"Touching Hearts, Changing Lives" has never been more apropos.

As always, the chorus has been serving variety in heaping portions. From its moving tribute to fathers, to the stage spectacle of doing the "Time Warp" from Rocky Horror, the roller coaster of emotions and surprises was in constant flow during "Another Opening, Another Show."

Good Company

Expanding from 16 to 20 members this season was just the beginning of the "good" for Good Company. The mixed chorus specializing in choral chamber music is enjoying its new rehearsal and performance space

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North Coast members danced the "Time Warp" from Rocky Horror.

at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, performing before new audiences there and at Trinity Cathedral.

"We now have more flexible rehearsal spaces with better lighting and the use of a Steinway grand piano," says Weaver. "There's also a wonderful organ there."

Good Company's spring concert-featuring the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes. Daniel Pinkham's “Wedding Cantata“ and the Bridal Chorus from Wagner's Lohengrin—is “a bit late this year.“ says Weaver. Performance time is 4 p.m.. Sunday, June 10 at Lakewood Presbyterian. 14502 Detroit Ave. Admission is free.

Good Company's November concert was well attended, says Weaver, who's looking forward to the final concert of the season. "Summer Serenade," at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 27 in the Garden Court of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

"We will be joined by several instrumentalists and will perform works by Handel. Billings, Monteverdi, Copeland. Barber and the late Cleveland composer Bain Murray." says Weaver. Seating will be limited for this free concert.

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The six-year-old chorus has already grown and thrived beyond its highest expectations. "Not long after incorporating as a notfor-profit organization, we undertook significant fund-raising, released a CD and participated in our first international choral festival." says Weaver. "Now the board is discussing the possibility of commissioning a work. hopefully with the help of GALA's Matching Grant Program.“

Windsong

If variety is the spice of life, the 18member chorus season has some kick to it. The group attended the Eighth International Women's Choral Festival, sponsored by the Sisters Singing Network, over Memorial Day weekend in Grand Rapids. Mich.

"The Sisters Singing Network is an organization of national and international women`s choruses promoting and performing women's music," says fifth-year Windsong conductor Sharon Marrell,

Windsong will give its spring concert, "Women: Voices of Conscience," at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at Archwood United Church of Christ, 2800 Archwood Ave., in Cleveland. Special guest Ruth Huber—a singer, songwriter and recording artist who directs the Bay Area Rainbow Women's Chorus in San Francisco--will be on hand to perform the world première of "WindSong." She'll sing other works that, according to Marrell, "celebrate Joan of Arc. Barbara Jordan and our furry friend the cat."

Tickets are $7 in advance by calling 216739-1928 or 216-921-7328. Huber also will perform at a local house concert on June 8. Tickets are $20 and seating is limited; call 216-752-9536 for more information and reservations.

In January. Windsong sang of "The Many Ways of Love." Concert selections ranged from the works of John Lennon ("Blackbird") and Manhattan Transfer ("Java Jive") to "A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square" and a jazz version of "How Do I Love Thee?"

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