THE SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS OUR FAVORITE THINGS

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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For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc

Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]

SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:

Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]

The SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY “ALL WE NEED IS LOVE”

JUNE 18 AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL

Tickets are on sale now at sfsymphony.org

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 13, 2024)—On June 18, at 7:30 PM, The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) presents their exciting contribution to Pride Month: “All We Need is Love.” This uplifting two-act concert with the San Francisco Symphony is a testament to love’s unending capacity to inspire and unite. Led by Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg, the concert will feature bass-baritone soloist Enrico Lagasca. Members of San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (BATCO) will also appear, with the 280-member Chorus, in “I, Too, Sing America”, from BATCO’s award-winning production of the same name.

SFGMC’s appearance, as part of the San Francisco Symphony’s Summer Concert Series marks their third annual collaboration, following two sold-out engagements with the San Francisco Symphony since 2022.

Tickets are currently on sale at sfsymphony.org.

This one-night only concert will showcase the full musical range of SFGMC by performing classical standards like Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “Five Mystical Songs”, featuring Mr. Lagasca, San Francisco composer David Conte’s “Elegy for the Matthew”, a newly arranged setting for Michael Tilson Thomas’s “I Like to Learn”, a new commission for chorus and orchestra by Dominick DiOrio and contemporary selections including Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” and Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Cut to the Feeling.”

“When conceiving this concert, I knew we would be performing again with the spectacular San Francisco Symphony, but for both acts for the first time,” revealed Jacob Stensberg, SFGMC’s Artistic Director. “Having them harmonize with the Chorus in June, the heart of Pride Month, I aimed to select music embodying the essence of what the Chorus stands for: music, activism, pride and community."

SFGMC CEO Chris Verdugo added, “‘Love’ epitomizes everything we are about this Pride month and always. While Jake has curated an astonishing evening of traditional love songs, once again he raises the bar by expanding our repertoire to delve into the multifaceted nature of love, recognizing its unparalleled potency."

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 Jacob Stensberg

Jacob Stensberg is the conductor and artistic director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the recently-opened Chan National Queer Arts Center. As conductor, Stensberg has led the Chorus in sold-out performances with the San Francisco Symphony and in world-class venues like The Green Music Center (Sonoma) and Zellerbach Hall (as part of the Cal Performances series), Grace Cathedral and more. The Chorus’s recent purchase and renovation of their building, The Chan National Queer Arts Center, has allowed the Chorus to expand their programming and Stensberg has produced and conducted numerous cabarets, community sing-alongs and a four-part spoken word series since the building was inaugurated in December 2023. Following their engagement with the San Francisco Symphony, Stensberg will lead SFGMC in a 2024 tour of the Midwest, with stops in Omaha, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, followed by the keynote performance at the GALA Choral Festival in Minneapolis this summer.

Prior to his appointment with SFGMC, he was the assistant director for Purdue Musical Organizations at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. While at Purdue, Mr. Stensberg worked with more than 300 students in eight different ensembles, performing in annual traditions like the Purdue Christmas Show, as well as writing and performing custom music for special events like NASA’s 50th anniversary of the moon landing in 2019.

In addition to his work at Purdue, Mr. Stensberg enjoyed working with Butler University choirs and orchestras, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Circle City Chamber Choir, Booth Tarkington Civic Theater, Zach&Zack Productions, BOBDIREX, Eclectic Pond Theatre Company, and Civic Theater of Lafayette.

Mr. Stensberg received his formal and formative training from Kristina Boerger at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. He earned his master’s degree in conducting from Butler University where he studied with Eric Stark.

About Enrico LaGasca

Filipino-American bass-baritone Enrico Lagasca has traveled long musical distances in the short time since he began his career – comprising 16 oratorios, 17 new-music works, seven opera roles plus 13 song cycles and collections. Heard on four Grammy Award-nominated recordings, Enrico is both a solo and ensemble singer in settings as diverse as New York’s mission-specific TENET Vocal Artists and major orchestras under conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Pablo Heras-Casado, Nicholas McGegan, Jane Glover, John Butt, John Nelson, Matthew Halls and Carl St. Clair. Soloist highlights of his current season include Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass

with Voices of Ascension in New York, Handel's Messiah at Ann Arbor's University Musical Society and at Carnegie Hall with Musica Sacra, Bach's Christmas Oratorio at Washington Bach Consort, and Mendelssohn's Walpurgisnacht with the St. Louis Symphony and Craig Johnson's Considering Matthew Shepard - the latter reflecting Enrico’s particular interest in works that address the LGBTQ+ community. He is a member of the Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble, which is dedicated to diversity and social justice.

HeisagraduateofNewYork'sMannesCollegeofMusicandlivesinNew York City with his domestic partner of several years.

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For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc

Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]

SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:

Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS MEMORY KEEPERS INITIATIVE: “THE HISTORY OF THE SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS”

AN ORAL HISTORY SERIES ABOUT THE WORLD’S PREMIER QUEER CHORUS, THEIR ACTIVISM AND THEIR ENDURING MESSAGE OF LOVE AND COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, MAY 16 AT 7 PM AT THE CHAN NATIONAL QUEER ARTS CENTER

FEATURING JACOB STENSBERG, ROBERT RUFO, JAY DAVIDSON,
THOMAS KENNARD AND SURPRISE GUESTS

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 1, 2024)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the world’s premier queer chorus, continues their exploration into local queer history with “The History of SFGMC”, the final program of the Memory Keepers Initiative. Hosted by SFGMC’s Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg and featuring Robert Rufo, Jay Davidson, Thomas Kennard and surprise guests, the final Memory Keepers Initiative of the season will be presented at SFGMC’s home, The Chan National Queer Arts Center (170 Valencia Street) on Thursday, May 16 at 7 PM. In an effort to make this event accessible to all, the Memory Keepers Initiative is a “Pay What You Can” event. Tickets are available at sfgmc.org.

The Memory Keepers Initiative is an oral history project that uplifts and preserves the stories of our community’s visionary LGBTQ+ elders in order to foster intergenerational connection among LGBTQ+ communities and allies, as well as inspire a bigger, brighter future by learning and understanding of our collective history.

The evening will be moderated by SFGMC’s Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg and will include Robert Rufo, one of the original Chorus members who continues to sing with the group, Jay Davidson, another original member who also served as the Business Manager in the early days, and Thomas Kennard, a long-standing member who joined shortly after his transition more than 25 years ago. The Chorus, whose roster of active singers is nearly 300 people has a storied history, dating back to their first performance, only a month after their formation, at the candlelight march following the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. The Chorus was the first in the world to openly proclaim their dignity by using the word “gay” in their title. SFGMC’s commitment to music and activism has never changed and they continue to be a beacon of hope to queer people across the world.

“When I first became aware that SFGMC was seeking a new Artistic Director, I immediately began to devour all their rich history, which convinced me that I wanted to take a part in their present and future”, stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “We are lucky to have so many of our long-standing members still active with us and their stories will make our history come alive for new generations. This is what Memory Keepers Initiative is about: keeping history alive, to inform the present and build upon the courage and wisdom of those who came before us.”

Presented at The Chan National Queer Arts Center in San Francisco, the Memory Keepers Initiative includes four programs in 2024: 

• January 11 - The Early Heroes of the Castro

• February 29 - Centering Black Trans Joy - Hosted by The Transgender District

• April 18 - San Francisco’s Queer Arts - Hosted by the GLBT Historical Society

• May 16, 2024 - A History of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

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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. 

For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc

Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]

SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:

Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS MEMORY KEEPERS INITIATIVE: “CENTERING BLACK TRANS JOY”

AN ORAL HISTORY SERIES ABOUT THE BAY AREA’S QUEER
HISTORY, HOSTED BY THE TRANSGENDER DISTRICT

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29 AT 7 PM AT THE
CHAN NATIONAL QUEER ARTS CENTER

FEATURING SHAYRON GRAYSON, ANDREA HORNE, FRESH LEV
WHITE, BREONNA MCCREE AND CARLO GOMEZ ARTEAGA

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, February 12, 2024)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the nation’s premier queer chorus, continues their exploration into local queer history with “Centering Black Trans Joy”, the second program of the Memory Keepers Initiative. Hosted by Co-Executive Directors of the Transgender District Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga, and featuring Shayron Grayson, Andrea Horne and Fresh Lev White, “Centering Black Trans Joy” will be presented at SFGMC’s home, The Chan National Queer Arts Center (170 Valencia Street) on Thursday, February 29th at 7 PM. In an effort to make this event accessible to all, the Memory Keepers Initiative is a “Pay What You Can” event. Tickets are available at sfgmc.org. 

The Memory Keepers Initiative is an oral history project that uplifts and preserves the stories of our community’s visionary LGBTQ+ elders in order to foster intergenerational connection among LGBTQ+ communities and allies, as well as inspire a bigger, brighter future by learning and understanding of our collective history.

The evening will be moderated by Co-Executive Directors of the Transgender District Breonna McCree and Carlo Gomez Arteaga and feature Shayron Grayson, Andrea Horne and Fresh Lev White.The Transgender District is the first legally recognized transgender district in the world. Originally named the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, after the first documented uprising of transgender and queer people in United States history, The Compton’s Cafeteria Riots of 1966, the district encompasses 6 blocks in the southeastern Tenderloin and adjacent areas.

“San Francisco’s queer history is a rich and complex tapestry that involves so many impactful icons and instances almost lost to history,” stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “Through our continuing Memory Keepers Initiative, these stories and the trail-blazing people whose stories come alive through their telling serve as reminders that the past can inform the present and that we can learn from the strength, courage, and wisdom of those who came before us.” 

In addition to the 90-minute interactive panel discussion, attendees are encouraged to remain afterwards and record their own stories about queer history in the Bay Area. Volunteers will be on hand to audio or video record anyone with a story to tell and a desire to share it for posterity.

Presented at The Chan National Queer Arts Center in San Francisco, the Memory Keepers Initiative will include four programs in 2024: 

• January 11 - The Early Heroes of the Castro

• February 29 - Centering Black Trans Joy

• April 18 - Hosted by the GLBT Historical Society

• May 16, 2024 - A History of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, hosted by Jacob Stensberg

###

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. 

For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc

Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]

SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:

Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS DRAG ME TO THE MOVIES!

Lights, camera, fabulous! One-night only musical extravaganza at Davies Symphony Hall featuring 300 members of

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 AT 7:30 PM

AT DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 23, 2024)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the world’s premier queer chorus, heads to Hollywood and the silver screen with DRAG ME TO THE MOVIES!, a cinematic extravaganza that’s more dazzling than any Tinsel Town premiere. Featuring the 300-member San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, under the baton of Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg, DRAG ME TO THE MOVIES! will premiere on Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 PM at Davies Symphony Hall (201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco). Tickets are currently on sale at sfgmc.org.

This isn't just a night of glitz and glamor; it's an ode to the love we find in

every frame and lyric. Roll out the glittering red carpet and step into a world where iconic film scores, pop culture anthems, and the allure of drag harmonize in one unforgettable evening. It's more than movie magic—it's a celebration of love's starring role in the stories we tell. So grab your popcorn, strike a pose, and let SFGMC "drag" you into a celluloid world where every note is an emotion, every performance an affirmation, and every round of applause is a testament to love.

The evening will feature world renowned favorites and groundbreaking original interpretations from beloved movies like, Sister Act, Hocus Pocus, The Bodyguard, The First Wives Club, The Greatest Showman, The Da Vinci Code, and of course…Titanic!

“Every time I walk into a movie theatre, I’m transported the moment the lights first flicker on the silver screen,” stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg.  “I’m carried away by the story, the acting and cinematography but as a musician, I’m always aware of the ingenious music that underlies the action on screen and provides the emotion needed to make the scene complete. I know audiences will love SFGMC’s unique perspective on some of this music and will hear these beloved songs in a brand new way.”

Featuring 300 singers, the Lollipop Guild and Homophonics ensembles, soloists and a small combo, this concert has something for every movie lover to savor and remember or, as a certain Hollywood star reminds us each time we sit down with some popcorn - “that indescribable feeling we get when the lights begin to dim and we go somewhere we’ve never been before — not just entertained, but somehow reborn, together.”

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For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc

Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]

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 Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg and Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo, 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.

SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:

Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE TO VALENTINE’S DAY!

LOVE SONGS (AND OTHER MYTHS)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH AT 7:30 PM

AT THE CHAN NATIONAL QUEER ARTS CENTER

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 29, 2023)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the world’s premier queer chorus, has the perfect antidote to Valentine’s Day when they present LOVE SONGS (AND OTHER MYTHS) on Thursday, February 15 at 7:30 PM. The intimate, one-night only cabaret will feature singers from the Chorus in their inaugural performance at SFGMC’s new home, The Chan National Queer Arts Center (170 Valencia Street). Tickets are available at sfgmc.org.

Regardless of the state of your heart, this intimate evening has been created to fill the audience with the signature love and laughter SFGMC is known for. Expect the unexpected at this special event in which the word ‘love’ is defined by members of the Chorus, who will perform in ensembles, solos and duets. As with anything that SFGMC touches, patrons can expect to experience love with a distinctly queer touch, turning ballads into camp and comic numbers into tragedy as they set their sights on some of the great love songs of our time.

Whether attending alone or with a loved one, Love Songs (and other myths), offers two hours of musical mastery, created and curated by SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg and features SFGMC singers Derek Blechinger, Sam Brondfield, Andrew Caldwell, Mike Devlin, Gilberto Esqueda, Kyle Fowler, Brandon Jenkins, Clint Johnson, Jon Jones, Vinney Lê, Vi Lê-Szarapka, Butch Merideth, Case Nafziger, Justin Nool, Louis Rogers, Ayden Shupe and Oky Sulistio.

“Anyone who has attended one of our concerts has been witness to the extraordinary amount of talent that call our Chorus ‘home’,” stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “I’m continually astounded during our soloist auditions at the large talent pool and diversity of choices on offer. With LOVE SONGS, we’re giving a chance for the public to discover these talents more fully and in a more intimate setting, here in our own home.”

This evening celebrates "love" in all its sweet, camp, ironic, comic, tragic, amorous and mysterious ways through the eyes of some of the best solo singers in the Bay Area. What’s love got to do with it?  Everything.

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For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc

Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]

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 Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg and Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo, 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.

SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:

Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS MEMORY KEEPERS INITIATIVE

AN ORAL HISTORY SERIES ABOUT THE BAY AREA’S LGBTQ+ HISTORY

INAUGURAL PROGRAM ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 AT 7 PM FEATURES LEGENDARY QUEER ICONS DONNA SACHET, DEREK BARNES, SELISSE BERRY AND ALEXIS MIRANDA

AT THE CHAN NATIONAL QUEER ARTS CENTER

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA, January 3, 2023)—The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, the nation’s premier queer chorus, starts 2024 with a brand new addition to their programming MEMORY KEEPERS INITIATIVE, presented at their new home, The Chan National Queer Arts Center (170 Valencia Street).  Legendary San Francisco drag icon Donna Sachet will host a panel discussion about the history of the Bay Area’s LGBTQ+ history on Thursday, January 11 at 7 PM.  A donation of $30 is recommended, but in an effort to make this event accessible to all, it is “Pay What You Can”. Tickets are available at sfgmc.org.

The Memory Keepers Initiative is an oral history project intended to uplift and preserve the stories of our visionary LGBTQ+ elders. By doing so, we hope to foster intergenerational connection among LGBTQ+ communities and our allies, as well as inspire a bigger, brighter future by learning and understanding our history.

The evening will be moderated by Donna Sachet, who is affectionately known as the First Lady of the Castro. Donna is joined by Derek Barnes, a local activist, media columnist and member of several LGBTQ+ Boards of Directors; Selisse Berry, the lesbian activist and founder of Out and Equal; and SF Empress Alexis Miranda, the entertainer and Latino activist.

“Stories have transformational power, and we keep legacies alive by sharing them,” stated SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “The purpose of oral history projects is to capture and record our heritage as to not become a community of forgetters; rather, to learn from the strength, courage, and wisdom of those who came before us.” 

In addition to the 90-minute interactive panel discussion, attendees are encouraged to remain afterwards and record their own stories about queer history in the Bay Area. Volunteers will be on hand to audio or video record anyone with a story to tell and a desire to share it for posterity.

Presented at The Chan National Queer Arts Center in San Francisco, the Memory Keepers Initiative will include four programs in 2024: January 11, February 29, April 18, and May 16, 2024.  Additional topics will be announced and will feature up to two co-moderators guiding a discussion with 3-4 panelists on a given topic. 

About Donna Sachet

Donna Sachet arrived in San Francisco 30 years ago from New York City, quickly joining the SF Gay Men's Chorus and discovering the drag personality that won the titles of Miss Gay San Francisco and Absolute Empress XXX and she continues to emcee, entertain, fund-raise, and support her beloved city and LGBTQ+ Community.  She co-chaired the SF GLAAD Media Awards and the 50th Anniversary of the Imperial Court at City Hall and has served on the Boards of Directors of the AIDS Emergency Fund, Positive Resource Center (now PRC), SF LGBT Community Center, State Board of EqualityCalifornia, LGBT Advisory Committee to the SF Human Rights Commission, Imperial Council of SF, International Court Council, and Rainbow Honor Walk.  She is most proud of the annual Pride Brunch, benefiting PRC and honoring the Grand Marshals of the SF Pride Parade, which she co-founded with Gary Virginia, and her annual Songs of the Season, benefiting PRC and now produced by Brian Kent.

      Donna's schedule of charitable work has brought her many awards and recognition from elected officials, earning her the nickname of First Lady of the Castro.  Vice President Kamala Harris included Donna Sachet among the guests for her Pride Celebration at the Vice-Presidential Residence this year.  Donna currently writes a biweekly column for the Bay Times, provides LGBTQ+ content to SF Travel (formerly SF Convention & Visitors Bureau), and recently revived the successful Sunday's a Drag brunch show from the Starlight Room to Club Fugazi in North Beach.

Other Participants bios TK

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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.

For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

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Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

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Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]

SFGMC MEDIA CONTACT:

Scott Walton 415.350.5195/[email protected]

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

MUCH-ANTICIPATED ANNUAL CONCERTS TO FEATURE
FESTIVE FAVORITES, UNEXPECTED ORIGINALS, AND SPECIAL SURPRISES

DECEMBER 8–9, 2023

San Francisco’s Sydney Goldstein Theater

DECEMBER 16, 2023

Rohnert Park’s Green Music Center

DECEMBER 17, 2023

Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall

DECEMBER 24, 2023

San Francisco’s Castro Theatre

SAN FRANCISCO (November 20, 2023)—San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) celebrates the holiday season with the return of their much-anticipated annual holiday tradition, Holiday Spectacular, taking place at four venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area during the month of December.

Rediscover the enchantment of the holiday season with a heartfelt twist at SFGMC’s annual Holiday Spectacular. This is no ordinary night of yuletide carols. As the chorus’s 240+ members captivate audiences with timeless holiday favorites and delightful surprises, remember that beneath each winter-kissed melody lies a profound message: you are seen, valued, and cared for. Join SFGMC in celebrating a season where hearts are lighter, hope shines brighter, and connections flourish against the backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area. Because, ultimately, isn’t that what the holidays are truly about? Get ready for a concert experience that seamlessly blends the magic of the season with the transformative force of compassion and community.

Says SFGMC Chief Executive Officer Chris Verdugo: “I take immense pride in the commitment and artistic talent demonstrated by our Artistic Director, Jacob Stensberg, our outstanding team, our 240+ singers, and our live band. Together, they have collaborated to craft a truly exceptional holiday celebration for the entire Bay Area community”.

“The spirit of the holiday season has always been a spirit of love, whether it be through the old stories we retell, the songs we sing, or a friendly warm embrace,” adds SFGMC Artistic Director Jacob Stensberg. “Our Holiday Spectacular this season is all about love: love for each other, for those around the world, our love of singing and sharing, and even our shameless love for pop icon Britney Spears. I know you’ll feel it if you come out and join us this December at one of our shows around the Bay Area—the 240+ singers on stage and nine players in the band are ready to help your heart grow three sizes this holiday season!”

This year’s concerts promise the captivating charm, enjoyment, and heartfelt performances that the Chorus consistently brings. The program will feature beloved holiday classics like “Deck the Halls,” “This Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” alongside unique and festive surprises, including a Jackson 5 Christmas medley.

The Chorus will also present the world premiere performance of “Where Winter Rests in Sleep,” composed by Alessio Tranchell, winner of SFGMC’s Annual Composition Competition. Now in its second year, this annual songwriting competition was designed to uplift art and artists and inspire the creation of fresh new repertoire for the winter season. Each year, SFGMC will hold a call for entries encouraging composers to pen new seasonal TTBB works, accessible to Gay Men’s Choruses and TTBB choruses around the globe.

Holiday Spectacular will take place on Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 9, 2023 at San Francisco’s Sydney Goldstein Theater; Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Rohnert Park’s Green Music Center; and Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall.

Culminating the holiday season, SFGMC’s annual Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays returns to San Francisco’s iconic Castro Theatre for three performances. On Christmas Eve 1990, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus gathered at the Castro Theatre to bring seasonal cheer to those who had no home to go to. Now in its 34th year, Home for the Holidays has grown into a holiday tradition where families—both biological and chosen—gather for a night of joyous music and heartwarming festivities!
Holiday Spectacular: Home for the Holidays will take place on Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 5 p.m., 7p.m., and 9 p.m.

Tickets for all concerts are on-sale now by visiting sfgmc.org/season-46/holiday-spectacular-2023.

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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 The Pansy L. Chan and Terrence D. Chan National Queer Arts Center (The Chan), the new home of SFGMC. Located in the Mission District, the newly-restored LGBTQ center is the first of its kind in the country. The building is 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.

For more information on SFGMC, visit www.sfgmc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfgmc

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sfgmc

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sfgaymenschorus

YouTube: www.youtube.com/sfgmcvideo

X (formally ‘Twitter’): www.twitter.com/sfgmc

Visit SFGMC TV: www.sfgmc.org/sfgmctv

SFGMC Archive contact: [email protected]