TCGMC Announces 25th Anniversary Concert Season and Plans for National Tour to the South

June 28 , 2005
Jon Lewis, Executive Director
612.339.7664
jlewis@tcgmc.org

Minneapolis, MN - The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus announced their 2005-2006 concert season and plans for a national tour of the South scheduled for July of 2006. Plans for the Chorus' 25 th Anniversary include two new commissions, enhanced orchestrations, a special anniversary concert, two new recordings, a special outreach concert at the new Minneapolis Public Library and an outreach tour, coined the "Great Southern Exposure Tour" to five cities in the southern U.S.

In December, a Twin Cities holiday tradition returns as the Chorus presents SOULstice: Holiday Music That's Good For Your Soul! And, although the "spirit of the season" is a merging of the scientific return of the sun and the observance of Christmas, we thought we'd expand the definition even more and celebrate the spiritual, moral and emotional nature of human beings. Ultimately, this concert is built on a concept of wonderful music that speaks to all of us and our human condition. This concert will set the tone for what you can expect throughout the season - beautiful, and often quite challenging, music and always a bit of fun thrown in!

Dr. Stan Hill , the Artistic Director of the Chorus has programmed many yuletide favorites including Silent Night, I Saw Three Ships, What Child Is This?, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen as well as two new commissions: the first composed by former Chorus Artistic Director, Craig Carnahan and the second by nationally celebrated St. Paul native, Stephen Paulus.

The Carnahan piece, titled No Sad Thought His Soul Afright , is based on two poems: one by Ralph Vaught Williams and the other anonymous. The Paulus commission, based on a poem by George Eliot, will be presented over the entire season with the first of three treatments being premiered at the holiday concert. (The second treatment will premiere in March and the final treatment will premiere in June.) Other highlights of the holiday concert include Z. Randall Stroope's beautiful Amor De Mi Alma and Norman Dello Joio's monumental A Jubilant Song .

The official anniversary concert will be celebrated the end of March and first of April with The 25 th Anniversary Concert: You Raise Us Up! This milestone concert will celebrate the Chorus' history as well as commence the Chorus' first step into the next 25 years. Included in this concert will be the premiere of a new commission by St. Paul native and American musical luminary, Stephen Paulus. Also planned will be selections from the smash Broadway musical Songs For a New World and the exultant Gloria by Randall Bass with organ, percussion and brass choir. The Chorus will take a look at the past with some of their greatest moments, including one movement each from three of the greatest pieces to originate from the GLBT choral tradition: NakedMan, Exile and Metamorphosis , the Chorus' own commission from 2004 about the lives of the men of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus themselves.

"This concert truly marks a beginning for us in many ways," said Dr. Stan Hill . "We are a Chorus that has grown-up, and the men have never sounded better. When we walk-out on to the stage on March 30, 2006 , you will see and hear a Chorus that has been on a journey - a Chorus that has had some tough times, but more importantly has had many, many fun times - and has survived. The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus of 2005-2006 is bold, brave and is able to stand alongside the very best."

In May, the small ensemble of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, OutLoud!, will perform in a concert all their own, You Oughta Be In Pictures: Songs of the Silver Screen.

Under the direction of Robert Schlidt , this dynamic group will celebrate some of the greatest movie musicals of all time. With their signature high energy style, this ensemble of 12 will bring some of your favorite movie memories to life. From Singin' in the Rain and Fame to Sister Act and Moulin Rouge , this razzle-dazzle, show-stopping concert will take you on a madcap tour of fun - Hollywood style!

June brings us to the Chorus' annual Pride Concert, this year a special inspirational performance - 25 Years of Gay Pride: We've Come a Long Way, Baby! Music that inspires courage and music that celebrates victory when the struggle is done will be the threads that weave this powerful concert program together. The centerpiece will be the moving adaptation of Michael's Letter to Mama from Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City , in which a boy tries to tell his mother what being gay is - and more importantly, what it is not . Pride 2006 will be a moving tribute to all who have gone before us in our struggle for acceptance and equality. As a vital catalyst for change in the Twin Cities, the Chorus will recall some of their own triumphs from the past 25 years.

"In programming this important season for the Chorus, we wanted to showcase the artistic quality of the Chorus, and we plan to enhance this with some beautiful orchestrations in each of the concerts," said Dr. Hill. "If you have ever been to one of our concerts, you know that we occasionally add an instrument or two along with our piano. Because it is very expensive, we have been limited. This year, though, we are raising the bar and adding this and other production enhancements to each of the concerts," he said.

The Chorus will team-up with the Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra in the annual favorite Messiah Sing-Along , an add-on concert scheduled for Sunday, December 4 at 3 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church. This will be the third year the Chorus has produced its own Messiah Sing-Along . "Each year this amazing concert has drawn people in that have never been to a Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus concert before, and what better way to get to know each other than by singing together! This concert demonstrates exactly what we are all about - building community," said Joann Usher , Executive Director of the Chorus. In addition to the Minnesota Philharmonic, this concert will also feature four soloists: Lola Watson, soprano; Susan Druck, mezzo soprano; Kelsey Bruso, tenor; and Thomas Dreeze , baritone. Audiences can bring their own copy of the G. Schirmer score of Handel's Messiah or they can purchase a copy for $10 in the lobby.

Season packages for the 2005-2006 Chorus season range in price from $86 - $133 before August 15 th and $90 - $140 after August 15 th . The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus 25 th season brochure is available at the Chorus offices, Ted Mann Concert Hall and Northrop Auditorium box office on the University of Minnesota campus, or by calling the Chorus offices at 612.339.7664. Single tickets will go on sale Monday, September 12 at 10 a.m.

Subscriber benefits include:

• A savings of 15% off regular single-ticket prices
• Exchange tickets any time - any performance - no questions asked
• Exclusive discounts on all Chorus merchandise
• Special invitations to spectacular receptions and parties
• Free replacements for lost tickets
• NEW! Exclusive discounts with the following Chorus partners: Fhima's Loto, Jetset, Louis XIII, Radisson Metrodome Hotel Lounge, The Times, Wilde Roast Café.

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE TOUR
The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus may well be the first gay men's chorus ever to take such a bold step in pushing for tolerance and acceptance for the gay community in this country when they take their song on the road in July 2006. The Chorus is planning a whirlwind tour that includes five stops in six days beginning in Nashville , Tennessee and ending in New Orleans , Louisiana . This will be the first national tour for the 25 year-old Chorus.

"Turning 25 has made us reflect upon where we have been and examine where we would like to be as an organization," said Joann Usher, Executive Director of the Chorus. "Outreach has always been an important part of our mission. We have worked hard to bring awareness and acceptance of the gay community in the Twin Cities and around the state and region. Now more than ever, though, we feel it is time to send an even stronger and louder message. By touring the South, we hope to raise a national awareness," she added.

Still under development, the tour will include stops in Birmingham , Alabama ; Jackson , Mississippi ; and Mobile , Alabama . The Chorus plans to fly to Nashville where the tour will begin and then travel by bus to each of the stops on the tour, ending in New Orleans . Based on early surveys, the Chorus is hoping to take at least 100 men on the tour.

"There have been a few tours by other gay choruses over the years. Most have focused on international tours. But when we began looking at doing a tour, it made sense to us to focus our energy in the U.S. ," said Dr. Stan Hill , Artistic Director of the Chorus.

"There is a lot of work to do right here at home, and we thought a tour of the South would be a perfect opportunity," he added.

A fundraising effort is underway to help support the tour. It will cost approximately $500 per Chorus member to take this tour. Donations and sponsorship opportunities may be directed to the Chorus office or by calling 612.339.7664. "This may well be the most important thing this Chorus has ever done. The impact will change lives not only of the communities where we perform, but also for each one of us in the Chorus family," said Joann Usher .

Other Highlights of the 25th Anniversary Season
The 25 th Anniversary Season will also include a significant outreach effort right here in the greater Twin Cities community. Included in this schedule will be concerts at St.

Joan of Arc Catholic Church on December 4 in a special encore performance from the popular sold-out concert last November, a "Beltway Tour" to include concerts performed in churches just outside the interstate loop, and a concert to be held at the Minneapolis Public Library as part of the new library's opening events in early 2006. (Heritage Hall, in the old Minneapolis Public Library building, was the site of the very first concert ever held by the Twin Cities Men's Chorus on May 15 and 16, 1981.)

The Chorus is planning to release two new CDs over the next year, one of which will be a compilation CD of the Anniversary Concert Season. There are also plans underway for special projects with Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) to be aired in March 2006 and a documentary project with Twin Cities Public Television.

For more information on the tour, season highlights or to order season tickets, contact the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus at 528 Hennepin Ave., Suite 307 in Minneapolis or by calling 612.339.7664 or visiting the Chorus website: www.tcgmc.org

Celebrating 25 years in the Twin Cities, the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is the fourth-largest gay men's chorus in the nation, featuring more than 140 singing members. Through musical excellence, this award-winning chorus has built a solid reputation for adventuresome programming, and its work and performances have been praised in a diverse range of press, including Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Minnesota Monthly, Minneapolis/St.Paul Magazine, Lavender and MPR.

With over 760 past and current members to its membership, the Chorus serves as a conduit for creating a more tolerant society through the elimination of stereotypes and by building community. TCGMC served an audience of over 25,000 people this past year through concert programs and outreach performances. Its mission is Gay men building community through music. Dr. Stan Hill is the Artistic Director and Joann Usher is the Chorus' Executive Director.

Lavender, Minnesota Monthly, The Rake and Twin Cities Public Television (tpt), are proud media partner of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus 25th anniversary season.

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Please contact Christopher Taykalo, Marketing and Development Manager at 612.339.7664 or email: ctaykalo@tcgmc.org