CRESCENDO BENEFIT
Crescendo honors champions who support the LGBTQ community and advance LGBTQ equality through their commitment to change, their leadership and their actions. For the first time in three years, this year’s event will take place in person, on Friday, April 8, 2022 at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. We hope you will join us on this celebratory occasion.
This evening will include an exclusive preview of SFGMC’s April 10 concert, Voices Rising, featuring members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Also performing will be Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz and SFGMC’s vocal ensembles—HomoPhonics and The Lollipop Guild.
6:00 PM Cocktail Reception | 7:00 PM Dinner & Awards | Dessert Reception to Follow
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco | 757 Market Street
As of Tuesday, March 15, 2022, single tickets have reached capacity. We invite you to join our waitlist and we will contact you should tickets become available.
COVID-19 safety guidelines will follow city and state guidelines. Proof of vaccination, including a booster shot, is required for entry, along with a valid ID.
2022 HONOREES
Vanguard Award - BD Wong
American Actor
Films include Jurassic World Dominion, Bird Box, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Jurassic World, The Normal Heart, Focus, Mulan (1 & 2), The Salton Sea, Executive Decision, Seven Years In Tibet, Jurassic Park, Father of the Bride (1 & 2) and The Freshman. He received the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Theater World, Clarence Derwent, and Tony Awards for his Broadway debut in M. Butterfly—an achievement not yet duplicated by another actor.
Recent television includes Wally in Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, “Whiterose” in Mr. Robot (Emmy and Critic’s Choice nominations), Prof. Hugo Strange in Gotham and Baldwin Pennypacker in American Horror Story. Other television includes Law & Order: SVU, All-American Girl, Oz, And the Band Played On, and Awake.
Other Broadway credits include You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Pacific Overtures. Regional theater includes The Orphan of Zhao (A.C.T., La Jolla Playhouse), Herringbone (Williamstown Theatre Festival, McCarter Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse). He is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Following Foo: (the electronic adventures of the Chestnut Man) (Harper Entertainment).
BD Wong is a graduate of Lincoln High School, and holds an honorary M.F.A. from American Conservatory Theatre.
Lifetime Achievement Award - Dr. Timothy Seelig
Tim Seelig is conductor, singer, teacher and motivational speaker. He is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the Chan National Center for the Arts. He continues an extremely busy guest-conducting and teaching schedule throughout the U.S. and across the globe.
Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including the Doctor of Musical Arts and the Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He has authored eight books and DVDs on choral technique including best-sellers The Perfect Blend, and The Perfect Rehearsal. His memoir, Tale of Two Tims: Big Ol’ Baptist Big Ol’ Gay was published in 2020.
Dr. Seelig’s early training was as a singer. He made his European operatic debut at the Staatsoper in St. Gallen, Switzerland and his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall. He appeared as soloist in world premieres of composers including John Corigliano, Conrad Susa and Peter Schikele (P.D.Q. Bach).
He is Conductor Emeritus of the Turtle Creek Chorale, which he conducted for 20 years and founder of The Women’s Chorus of Dallas, Dallas’ LGBTQ+ choruses. He also served as the first Artistic Director in Residence for GALA Choruses, the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses. Interesting facts include conducting the Guinness Book Of World Record's Longest Choral Concert, 20 hours 20 minutes, and carrying the Olympic torch as a community Hero and AIDS Activist. He hasn’t run since.
His recordings have been on Billboard Top Ten and iTunes Top Ten classical charts. His choruses have been the topic of three documentaries. The first on PBS, “After Goodbye: An AIDS Story” won the national EMMY for best documentary. The 2nd, “The Power of Harmony,” won Best Documentary at the USA Film Festival. The latest, “Gay Chorus Deep South” won the Audience Favorite award at its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and is currently streaming on several television channels.
Throughout his 35 years conducting LGBTQ+ choruses, he has commissioned a long list of choral works. In 1991, he commissioned the first AIDS Requiem, “When We No Longer Touch,” benefitting amfAR (The American Foundation for AIDS Research). In 2000, he commissioned “Sing for the Cure” for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation featuring Dr. Maya Angelou. “Wisdom of Old Turtle” benefitted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital featuring Marlo Thomas as narrator. Recent commissions include “Testimony” by Stephen Schwartz, “Tyler’s Suite” for the Tyler Clementi Foundation featuring 9 composers, “New Year’s Carol” and “Sancturay” by Ola Gjeilo, “I Am Harvey Milk” and “Unbreakable: by Andrew Lippa and “#twitterlieder” by James Eakin. The most recent commission is “Songs of the Phoenix” created by 13 diverse librettists and composers.
Known for his enthusiasm and sense of humor, Grammy Magazine says, “Dr. Seelig takes eclecticism to new heights.” Fanfare Magazine says he raises singers from “the ranks of amateur choir to one receiving wide recognition for excellent performances of appealing, fresh repertoire.” The New York Times calls Seelig an “expressive performer,” and the Fort Worth Star Telegram quips, “Seelig slices a thick cut of ham.
He is the proud grandfather of the amazing Clara Skye, Eden Mae, Cora Rose, Ivy Hope.
Corporate Champion Award - Amazon
The Corporate Champion Award recognizes corporations that provide authentic, dedicated support to LGBTQ people and organizations worldwide. SFGMC celebrates Amazon's support of the Bay Area arts and queer communities. For the past five years, Amazon has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, ranking it among the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality." Amazon received high marks for workforce protections for all employees, including full support of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions, inclusive benefits, including equivalency in same- and different-sex spousal and domestic partner medical and other benefits, and equal health coverage for transgender individuals without exclusion for medically necessary care. We celebrate Amazon's leadership in caring for our community.
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
Trailblazer Award - California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
This year, we are proud to announce that our Trailblazer Award recipient is the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
We recognize the CA Legislative LGBTQ Caucus for being the first in the nation to officially form a caucus of openly-LBGTQ state legislators. The Caucus continues to be a leader of progress for all Americans. Formed in 2002, the Caucus creates a forum for California Legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBTQ Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. The LGBTQ Caucus strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people, including differently abled bodies. Our Caucus is working diligently to support LGBTQ leaders that represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels.
TICKETS
SINGLE TICKETS
As of Tuesday, March 15, 2022, single tickets have reached capacity. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, please complete this form to be added to the waitlist. A staff member will reach out to you should tickets become available. We anticipate contacting everyone on the waitlist by Friday, April 1, 2022, or sooner.
DONATION ONLY
Can't attend the event on April 8th but still want to show your support? Make a 100% tax-deductible donation to Crescendo! Proceeds directly support SFGMC performances and programs.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Limited sponsorships remain available at certain levels beginning at $10,000. Contact [email protected] to become a sponsor.
Crescendo Silent and Live Auction
Your chance for extraordinary cruises, deluxe hotel and resort stays, original artwork, artisan wines, and more!
Hotels & Resorts
Travel Adventures
Luxury Dining & Wine
CRESCENDO COMMITTEE
Crescendo Co-Chairs
Denise Geschke
Selina Sun
Michael Tate
Table Captain Champion
Gregory Marks
Auction Chair
Mike Bernard
2022 Crescendo SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Mikkel Svane
RUBY SPONSOR
John and Denise Geschke
GOLD SPONSOR
Rebecca + Cal Henderson
SILVER SPONSORS
Janet Cluff
Steve Gallagher, Coldwell Banker
Dave Laudon and Randy Laroche
Tim Pavek
Paul Saccone and Ryan Knight
George Trapp
Andy Wheeler and Vinney Le
BRONZE SPONSOR
Wine Partner
Airline Partner
Hotel Partner
Don't feel like driving home after the event? Want to make a weekend of Crescendo and our "Voices Rising" concert? Our Hotel Partner the Intercontinental Hotel of San Francisco is offering a special room rate of $259 exclusively for friends of SFGMC. Click the logo to book now.
Images from Crescendo 2019 featuring star-studded performances, speakers, and more!
