Photo by Pablo Rico.
This September, every one of SFGMC’s 76 audition slots filled within 20 days of registration opening—and another 19 singers joined the waitlist. We were able to welcome every waitlisted singer and hear everyone who wanted to audition. That extraordinary response speaks to an enduring need: a safe, welcoming space where people can come together to sing, dance, and build community, free from the threat of violence. Forty-eight years ago, that same need brought our founding members together at Everett Middle School, just blocks from our permanent home today at the Chan National Queer Arts Center, 170 Valencia Street.
This season, we welcomed 39 new members—the most diverse incoming cohort in our history. Their arrival reflects an important evolution in who can find a home in SFGMC. Approximately five years ago, we updated our bylaws, removing the requirement that members identify as gay men. Today, auditioning requires just two things: singing in the tenor or bass vocal range and sharing our commitment to community building, compassion, and activism. Our name carries our history; our membership carries that legacy forward through an expanding chorus of identities, experiences, and voices.
The audition itself begins with a conversation with chorus members whose experience spans one to 48 years. Each singer then performs a song of their choosing for Artistic Director Jake Stensberg, Associate Director of Music Education and Outreach Mitch Galli, and our section leaders, accompanied live by Principal Accompanist and Music Supervisor Danny Sullivan. A few scales help the panel hear each singer’s range and determine their placement within the chorus. It’s a brief encounter that can open the door to years of music, friendship, and shared purpose. We’re delighted to welcome these 39 singers—and can’t wait for you to hear what we’ll create together.
