Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus
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Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | AGMC |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Genres | Choral, Broadway, classical, jazz, popular |
| Occupation | Men's chorus |
| Instrument | 168 voices |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Member of | GALA Choruses - https://galachoruses.org/ |
| Members | Artistic Director Donald Milton, III Chairman-Board of Directors Joey Jaworski Executive Director David Aurillio Assistant Conductor David G. Artadi Chorus Membership President Adam Miller Chorus Membership President-Elect Matthew Harrington Principal Accompanist Patrick Hutchinson |
| Website | https://www.voicesofnote.org/atlanta-gay-mens-chorus |
The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus (AGMC) is a nonprofit performing arts organization based in Atlanta, Georgia (US). The AGMC, along with the Atlanta Women's Chorus, are managed under their parent organization, Voices of Note.
The AGMC's traditional concert season includes a Holiday Concert in early December at The Cathedral of St. Phillip in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, a Spring Concert in late April, and a Summer Concert in June. The AGMC is also a strong presence in the Atlanta LGBTQ Community due to their involvement in various charitable organizations, cultural events and the annual Atlanta Gay Pride Parade.
One of the world's longest-running gay choruses, the AGMC is a member of the international Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA), and it actively participates in collaborative performances and educational efforts with GALA member choruses worldwide. The AGMC is also a member of Chorus America, an organization dedicated to the expansion of the choral movement in North America.
In August 1981, a time when the gay-rights movement was just gaining momentum, founding Artistic Director Jeffrey D. McIntyre and 45 singers came together to form something quite new, especially in the South—a singing group. Auditions were held on August 29 and the first rehearsal was held in September with a charter membership of 45 singers. By the time the newly formed AGMC gave its premier performance at First Metropolitan Community Church on North Highland Avenue on October 18, membership had increased to 48. More than 300 people attended. Six weeks later, the AGMC presented its first Holiday Concert, Music of the Season, featuring ten decidedly Christmas songs, on November 29, 1981, at Grant Park United Methodist Church.
The AGMC was chartered in the U.S. state of Georgia as a domestic nonprofit organization on March 3, 1982, and was granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service in December 1982. The AGMC joined the Gay And Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses), an international organization of gay, lesbian, and mixed choruses, on September 2, 1984. GALA has more than 185 member choruses with 10,000+ active members in 11 countries and hosts an international choral festival every four years (every three years in the 1980s). The AGMC has attended and performed in every festival since 1989, including Seattle, Washington in 1989; Denver, Colorado in 1992; Tampa, Florida in 1996; San Jose, California, in 2000; Montreal, Québec, in 2004; Miami, Florida, in 2008; Denver, Colorado, in 2012 and 2016; and GALA Festival 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2024. The AGMC performed with 91 of its singing members, the most that has ever attended. Due to the COVID Pandemic, the 2020 GALA Festival was rescheduled and eventually cancelled. The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus is set to attend the next Festival in Minneapolis again in 2028.
In 1984, the AGMC was the first gay organization to have a float in WSB-TV's annual Independence Day Salute 2 America Parade, and was included again in 1985. In 1994, the AGMC commissioned its first major work, Memento mori: an AIDS requiem by James Adler, which was world-premiered in 1996. In 1997 and again in 1998, the AGMC presented concerts at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Midtown Atlanta.
The AGMC has performed joint concerts with several other GALA choruses, including the New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus in the late 1980s, One Voice of Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1993, the Gateway Men's Chorus of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1994, le Choeur International Gai de Paris (the International Gay Men's Chorus of Paris, France) in 1996, the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., in 1999, Turtle Creek Chorale of Dallas, Texas, in 2003, and several performances over the years with the Atlanta Feminist Women's Chorus (AFWC). On July 14, 1986, the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus and the Atlanta Feminist Women's Chorus joined more than 500 other choral group members for a performance in Woodruff Park in the middle of downtown Atlanta.
The AGMC has also performed joint concerts with several special guests, including the Derivative Duo (Seattle, Washington) in 1995, Dr. Maya Angelou in 1998, the Atlanta Ballet in 1999, Matt Alber in 2015, and Jessica Vosk in 2022. For many years, the AGMC was a regular performer in the annual Heartstrings fundraiser for AIDS , St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church's annual Olde English Festival and, from 1996 to 1998, was also a featured performer at First Night Atlanta. The AGMC was the featured entertainment at the annual Southern Comfort Transgender Conference for many years. In 2000, the AGMC presented a benefit concert for the Birmingham AIDS Network in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2001, the AGMC, AFWC, and Atlanta Freedom Marching Band hosted a benefit concert for the victims and survivors of the September 11 terrorist attacks on America. In 2002, the AGMC performed at the post-inaugural reception for City of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, the first time any LGBT organization had participated in such an event. The AGMC was invited to perform for the City of Atlanta Mayor's Inaugural Pride Reception, started by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in 2018. Since then, the AGMC has been invited back to perform again at the 2nd Annual Pride Reception in 2019, and the 4th Annual Pride Reception in 2022, which was continued and hosted by the City of Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens.
In 2001, a quartet from the AGMC performed the national anthem at an Atlanta Braves home game,[1] and in 2002, the entire chorus returned to do the same.[2] Mayor Shirley Franklin issued a proclamation declaring that day, June 5, 2002, as "Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus Day" in the City of Atlanta. The AGMC is the only openly gay performing arts organization to perform the national anthem at an Atlanta Braves game. The AGMC continues to perform the National Anthem each year at the Atlanta Hawks games, including for their Atlanta Hawks Pride Night; and the Atlanta United FC Games for their annual Pride Night.
On December 20, 2013, the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus became the first openly gay group to be invited to and perform at the Georgia State Capitol building. The performance was coordinated by Artistic Director Kevin Robison and Georgia State Rep. Karla Drenner. Ms. Drenner and other local dignitaries also attended the performance.
On March 12, 2014, the Georgia House of Representatives passed Resolution HR 1787 commending the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus for its legacy and hard work. Representative Karla Drenner championed the Resolution through the House. The Resolution passed the House on the very day that the AGMC performed in the Rotunda of the Georgia State Capitol.
In the summer of 2023, a group of about 30 members from the AGMC performed in Bologna, Italy for the Various Voices European Choir Festival, from June 14–18, 2023.[3] They two performances: they first performed on June 16, 2023 at the MAMbo - Modern Art Museum of Bologna under the direction of Donald Milton III. They also presented a selection of music on June 17, 2023, at the Teatro Arena del Sole, in The Leo de Berardinis Hall for an audience of over 450 people from other choruses from around the world.
Artistic Directors
Donald Milton, III is the AGMC's current Artistic Director.[4]
Previous Artistic Directors
- Jeffrey D. McIntyre, Founding Artistic Director, 1981–1984 and 1991–1994, Interim Artistic Director, 2006–2007
- Neil Gregory, 1984–1987
- Richard D. Rechtin, 1988–1990
- David A. Puckett, 1995–1999
- Gary W. Arnold, 1999–2000
- Leslie J. Blackwell, 2000–2006[5]
- Kevin Robison, first Full-Time Artistic Director, 2007–2017[6]
Discography
- The AGMC recorded three tracks for Gerald L. Stacy's CD, In Remembrance of Love, in 1997, including "Commencement" by Shelly Jackson, "Prayer for the Children" by Kurt Bestor, and "Irish Blessing", arranged by Robert Seeley. "Prayer for the Children" was performed by the AGMC's small ensemble, Panache; David A. Puckett, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by Allgood Productions, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Carols, Revels and Holiday Cheer (1998)—a live recording of the AGMC's 1997 Holiday Concert at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip; David A. Puckett, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by DiverseCity Records, Austell, Georgia.
- Passions (2002)—a live recording of the AGMC's 2001 Spring Concert at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church; Leslie J. Blackwell, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by Gil Moor & Bill Brown, Atlanta, Georgia.
- A Real Family Holiday (2004)—a studio recording of music from the AGMC's 2003 Holiday Concert; Dr. Leslie J. Blackwell, Artistic Director. Recorded by Allgood Productions, Atlanta, Georgia; produced by Dr. Leslie J. Blackwell.
- Live at the Cathedral (2004)—a live recording of the AGMC's 2004 Holiday Concert at The Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip; Dr. Leslie J. Blackwell, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by Allgood Productions, Atlanta, Georgia.
- And On Earth, Peace (2012)—a live recording of various selections from the AGMC's Holiday Concerts at the Cathedral of St. Phillip from 2008–2011. Kevin Robison, Artistic Director. Recorded by RM Audio, Atlanta, Georgia.