AN INTIMATE EVENING FEATURING SFGMC
ENSEMBLES THE LOLLIPOP GUILD AND
HOMOPHONICS
FRIDAY, JUNE 7 - 7:30 pm
The Chan National Queer Arts Center
(San Francisco, CA – April XX, 2024) – The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) is thrilled to announce OUR FAVORITE THINGS, an intimate evening of music presented by their renowned ensembles The Lollipop Guild and HomoPhonics. This special event, taking place on Friday, June 7 at 7:30 pm at The Chan National Queer Arts Center, located at 170 Valencia Street, promises an evening of vocal fireworks and electrifying performances set in a cabaret-style seating at the newly-renovated home of the Chorus. Tickets are available for purchase at sfgmc.org.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS will play a second performance on Sunday, June 9 at 2 PM at Freight and Salvage as part of their presenting series. The Chorus has a long history with the Berkeley venue, performing their holiday show at the venue in more than 10 years of sold-out performances.
The evening will be filled with popular songs from Wicked, Pitch Perfect, Hocus Pocus, and Rent, as well as an hilarious tribute to the master movie musician John Williams, which recently became a viral hit online, with more than 1 million views, on TikTok and Instagram. Audiences can expect to sing along to classics from Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Adele. And of course, expect some Drag Queens (In the Sky). The event is sure to leave everyone smiling, hearts happy and enough earworms to satisfy a month’s worth of entertainment.
“We couldn't be more excited to feature the incredible talent and voices of the Chorus' two ensembles”, stated HomoPhonics director Mitch Galli. “When the HomoPhonics sing, it is pretty amazing to hear the sound that we can make using just our voices. The complex harmonies and rhythms create a wall of sound that we've come to be well known for and that leave audiences shouting for more."
“The Lollipop Guild was the first small ensemble in the LGBTQ choral movement, out and proud in 1979. I couldn’t be more honored to continue their legacy”, said Paul Saccone, music director. “We can’t wait to perform for you, bringing the signature wit, zest and camp that TLG is known for and that audiences love.”
“No one who has attended a performance by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has walked away without commenting on the singular artistry of our two ensembles: The Lollipop Guild and HomoPhonics”, stated SFGMC’s Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “These singers are committed to musical excellence and not only do they serve as the backbone of our larger Chorus, they also give their time to each of these ensembles. Our audiences can’t get enough of these talented singers and we wanted to give them an evening to themselves, a full evening of vocal pyrotechnics and ingenious choreography.”
About The Lollipop Guild: The Lollipop Guild was founded as a barbershop quartet in 1979 and is recognized as the world’s first openly gay vocal ensemble. Since then, The Lollipop Guild has grown to an ensemble that features light-hearted and upbeat styles of singing, with rich harmonies and dazzling choreography. The Lollipop Guild is led by Paul Saccone and accompanied by SFGMC’s resident pianist Danny Sullivan.
About HomoPhonics: SFGMC’s newest vocal ensemble, HomoPhonics, began in 2015 as a result of the recent contemporary pop a cappella craze. Focusing on musical cohesion with only their voices, the group, under the direction of Mitch Galli, uses arrangements that feature tight, dynamic harmonies and vibrant, upbeat rhythms with their signature tight choreography.
About SFGMC
Founded in 1978, SFGMC sparked a nationwide LGBTQ choral movement after its first public performance at a vigil on the steps of City Hall following the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Since then, SFGMC has been embedded in the fabric of San Francisco. It has soothed souls in pain, lifted spirits in triumph, and has remained a steadfast beacon of hope.
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo and Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg, SFGMC has established a heightened level of performance standards bringing renewed audience and choral industry acclaim.
Recent touring schedules, recordings, and outreach programs have broadened its impact and reputation in the community while maintaining its signature blend of humor, personality and ground-breaking performances. In 2019, SFGMC acquired a historic facility that has become its permanent home for rehearsals and offices. The building also serves as The Chan National Queer Arts Center, the first-ever community space for LGBTQ artists and arts organizations.
About The Chan National Queer Arts Center
The Pansy L. Chan and Terrence D. Chan National Queer Arts Center is the nation’s first LGBTQ center for community, creativity and collaboration. This landmark space, that also serves as the home of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, is the first of its kind in the country — an artistic sanctuary for queer artists to call home, a space for audiences to share their lived experiences, and a beacon of inspiration and empowerment for queer individuals nationwide who are confronting oppression. A place for art and activism.
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Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]
