The Stonewall Chorale
| The Stonewall Chorale | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | New York City, New York, United States |
| Genres | Classical, Art music, Great American Songbook |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Associated acts |
GALA Choruses, Meredith Monk |
| Website | stonewallchorale.org |
The Stonewall Chorale, founded in New York City in 1977, is America's first gay and lesbian chorus. The Chorale, a four-part mixed chorus of approximately 60 members, annually performs three subscription concerts at various venues in New York City. Its repertoire ranges from great classical works to contemporary pieces by cutting edge composers like Ricky Ian Gordon, Eric Whitacre, Chris DeBlasio, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, and Meredith Monk.
The Stonewall Chorale regularly participates in community service events such as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center Annual Garden Party, World AIDS Day and Kristallnacht commemorations, holiday caroling, and Gay Pride celebrations. Stonewall also performs with various groups that provide entertainment in hospitals throughout the NYC metropolitan area.
Stonewall Chorale Advisory Board members include Gerald Busby, Beth Clayton, John Corigliano, Meredith Monk, Marni Nixon, Kirk Nurock, Patricia Racette, Ned Rorem, Jerry Rubino, Liz Smith, and Eric Whitacre.
Cynthia Powell is the conductor and artistic director.
The Stonewall Chorale originated in December 1977 as the Gotham Male Chorus, founded by conductor Donald Rock, who wanted a chorus that would "dig music as well as each other." In 1979, women joined Gotham Male Chorus for the first time, and the name was changed to Stonewall Chorale, the nation's first lesbian and gay mixed-voice chorus. It was a catalyst for the creation of solidarity and commonality among GLBTQ individuals in New York City.
In September 1983 at Lincoln Center,the Chorale opened the first gay and lesbian choral festival named "Come Out! and Sing Together" (aka COAST), organized and sponsored by GALA Choruses (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses), now an international organization with more than 150 member choruses.
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