FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Peter Zimmerman | San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
(415) 865-3650 ext. 306 | [email protected]
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Welcomes Mitch Galli as new Educational Outreach and Music Services Manager
SAN FRANCISCO (July 19, 2017) – Today, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC), under the leadership of Dr. Timothy Seelig, Artistic Director, and Christopher Verdugo, Executive Director, announced the hire of Mitch Galli as SFGMC’s new Educational Outreach and Music Services Manager.
“There could not be a more perfect person to join the SFGMC team at this time,” writes Dr. Timothy Seelig. “Mitch comes to us from public school music education to help us launch our educational outreach to Bay Area youth. We are so lucky to have such a dynamic musician leading the way.”
As part of the Chorus’ landmark 40th Season, SFGMC will launch a new educational initiative in Bay Area public schools, which will bring singers from the Chorus to middle and high schools in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and beyond for multi-hour intensive presentations and workshops on community building, advocacy, and anti-bullying. The curriculum is being developed in collaboration with Young Audiences.
Galli will lead this new initiative, and assist with conducting and music matters for the Chorus. Originally from Williamstown, Massachusetts, Galli has lived in the Bay Area for five years and has sung with SFGMC for nearly three years. Shortly after joining the Chorus, he founded HomoPhonics, SFGMC's a cappella ensemble that performs upbeat vocal arrangements of classic and contemporary pop hits.
Galli received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from St. Lawrence University and his Masters in Urban Education Administration and Policy from Loyola Marymount University. He started his teaching career through Teach for America, where he spent four years teaching music and math at an Oakland-based high school. He then transitioned to a middle school in San Francisco that is part of one of the nation's leading charter school networks.
“With his extensive background in education and his passion for music, we could not be more excited to have Mitch join our team as we ready the Chorus’ 40th season this fall,” adds Christopher Verdugo. “He brings the right acumen and skill set to make quite the impact here, and he does so with such gregariousness and poise. He will make an excellent Educational Outreach and Music Services Manager, and we’re so happy to have him!”
About San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
For nearly 40 years, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has courageously served as the international standard bearer for a powerful and accomplished mix of high-caliber performance, human rights, community activism, empowerment and inclusiveness, establishing it as an icon among LGBT organizations. Founded in 1978, it was the first organization of its kind and is credited with starting the LGBT choral movement, galvanizing and changing the course of LGBT history. It continues to rally and inspire other arts-based community organizations around the world. Under the leadership of Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Timothy Seelig, SFGMC has in recent seasons established a heightened level of performance standards receiving audience and choral acclaim, increased its touring and recording profile and broadened its impact and reputation in the community while maintaining its signature blend of humor, personality and high-voltage performances. For more information, visit www.sfgmc.org and @sfgmc (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram).
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