Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus
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Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus | ||
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Background information | ||
Also known as | MGLC | |
Origin | Melbourne, Australia | |
Genre(s) | Broadway, choral, classical, jazz, popular | |
Occupation(s) | Choir | |
Instrument(s) | ca. 100 voices | |
Years active | 1990-present | |
Associated acts |
Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus | |
Website | www.mglc.org.au | |
Members | ||
Music Director Jonathon Welch Music Director - Youth Chorus Adrian Schultz |
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Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus (MGLC), the first gay and lesbian choral organisation in the Southern Hemisphere, was founded in Australia in 1990 by gay performer and activist, Lawrence McGuire (1966 - ). The chorus was first named ALSOUNDS, due in part to its affiliation with the ALSO Foundation.[1] In April, 1994, the name was changed to Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus, reflecting the chorus's organisational independence and a desire to further challenge stereotypes.
Contents |
[edit] Background
[edit] Gay Choirs in Australia, 1981-1991
The first gay choir in Australia was the Gay Liberation Quire, an all-male, Sydney-based chorus. It began in 1981, and disbanded c. 1987.[2] McGuire, unaware of the Sydney group, learned for the first time of the existence of gay choruses while listening to an LP record, The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Tours America 1981, at a party. Inspired by the discovery, McGuire, along with his roommates (including his sister, Kathleen, and friend Tuck Wah Leong),[3] discussed the notion of forming a gay and lesbian choir in Melbourne. McGuire wanted to form a choir specifically with gay men and women in an effort to unify these sometimes divergent groups. AIDS had already caused much devastation in the gay community, and he believed that a choir would help to lift spirits and be a positive expression against homophobia.[4] With a small group of men and women, both gay and straight, the first rehearsal was held on April 28, 1990.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir (SGLC) began less than a year later in January 1991, independent of the Melbourne chorus. Rob Holland founded SGLC in response to the lack of Australian representation in the Cultural Festival of the Vancouver Gay Games, held in August, 1990.[5]
[edit] Conductors
MGLC’s first Music Director was Trevor Dunn. Dunn, who was a music teacher at Kilbreda College - a Catholic girls' high school in Mentone, directed the group for a number of years before succumbing to AIDS.
Following a series of short-term conductors, Tuck Wah Leong took the helm as Music Director c. 1994 and directed the MGLC's first, award-winning CD and its first international tour.[6]
In 2001, MGLC appointed conductor Adrian Kirk, under whose direction the chorus developed a more sophisticated, classical sound.[7]
Jonathon Welch - of the renowned operatic trio: Tenor Australis, and former conductor of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir - became MGLC’s Music Director in 2005.
[edit] Community Involvement
Since its inception, the MGLC has provided support and outreach to the GLBTI community. Examples of regular community appearances include: annual Stonewall commemorative service for the Metropolitan Community Church; World AIDS Day ceremonies and services for the People Living With AIDS; Australia Day Picnic for GLBTI radio station, JOY Melbourne 94.9 FM.
[edit] Youth Chorus
In August, 2005, MGLC founded the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus, the first chorus of its kind in Australasia.
[edit] Achievements
[edit] Awards
- 1st Prize, Community Choir Section, Boroondara Eisteddfod, 1995
- Best Choir Award, Australian National Festival of the Voice, 1996
- Best Debut Recording, Gay and Lesbian Music Awards (US), 1998
- Rainbow Award, Best Live Performance, 2004
- Rainbow Award, Best Live Performance, 2005
- Rainbow Award, Best New Community Event for Youth Chorus's debut concert, 2006
[edit] Touring
- 1998, August: European tour to Frankfurt, Freiberg Vienna, and Amsterdam for Gay Games
- 1996, February: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
- 2000: Our Family concert, Canberra
- 2001: Adelaide Lesbian & Gay Cultural Festival
- 2002, November: Gay Games in Sydney, Australia
- 2006, July: Gay Games in Chicago, and OutGames in Montreal
[edit] Performance Highlights
- 1990: First concert: Steppin' Out, Caulfield Town Hall
- 1995: QANTAS 75th birthday, Melbourne Zoo
- 1998, August 5: Gay Games Choir Festival, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
- 1999, March 27, 28: Let’s Misbehave concert, Newton Theater, Sydney
- 2002, November 7: Sing Out to the World concert, Sydney Opera House
- 2002: Virgin Megastore opening with Sir Richard Branson, South Yarra
- 2003, February 24: concert with Seattle Men's Chorus and Ann Hampton Callaway, Melbourne Town Hall
- 2006, March 2: concert with Jimmy Somerville, Justice Michael Kirby, Bob Downe and Eddie Perfect at Hamer Hall
- 2006, July 19: Gay Games choral concert, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago
[edit] Affiliations
MGLC is an affiliate member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses) and a member of the Australian National Choral Association.
[edit] Discography
- Kaleidoscope (1996)
- Inflight (1998)
- Feelin’ Groovy (2006)
- Evolution (2006)
[edit] References
- ^ About Us - History. ALSO Foundation. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
- ^ Gay Liberation Quire - god help you merry dykes and poofs. Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.; see also The Gay Liberation Quire, of Sydney, Australia. Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
- ^ In later years, Kathleen McGuire, became the Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (2000), and Tuck Wah Leong served as MGLC's pianist and then Music Director.
- ^ According to Lawrence McGuire and Tuck Wah Leong in interviews with the present author.
- ^ What is the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir?. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
- ^ Artist bio Biography, Tuck Wah Leong. The University of Melbourne. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
- ^ Biography, Adrian Kirk. Allegro Music Australia. Retrieved on March 20, 2007.
[edit] External link
- Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus official website
- Australian National Choral Association official website
- GALA Choruses official website
- SING OUT! official website
- LEGATO official website
- Australasian Gay & Lesbian Choirs' Newsletter