The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus (TCGMC) is a choral group in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. The all-male chorus sings a variety of songs arranged for
TTBB In musical choral notation, TTBB denotes a four-part lower-voice choir. Its configuration is Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Bass 1 (Baritone), Bass 2.
The Tanunda Liedertafel employs this method of notation in their music.
Typically (but not always) the 1st ...
, ranging from Broadway show tunes to Latin motets to original compositions specially commissioned by the Chorus or written by its members.
With 180 volunteer singing members, the Chorus produces and presents a full concert season every year and is also featured at a number of other special appearances and outreach programs locally, throughout the Midwest and the nation.
TCGMC is a member-driven organization governed by a 24-member Board of Directors composed of 50% singing members. Its current Artistic Director is Dr. Gerald Gurss, and its Executive Director is Kevin Stocks.
History
The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus was formed in 1981 as Twin Cities Men's Chorus, adding the word "gay" to their title in 1991. TCGMC has grown to be one of the largest GLBT arts organizations in Minnesota and the fourth largest gay men's chorus in the country. It is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses).
Additionally, the Chorus, along with Emmy award-winning producers
John Scagliotti
John Scagliotti is an American film director and producer, and radio broadcaster. He has received honors for his work on documentaries about LGBT issues including ''Before Stonewall'' and ''After Stonewall''.
Biography
During the 1970s, Scagliott ...
and Dan Hunt and author
Tomie dePaola
Thomas Anthony "Tomie" dePaola (; September 15, 1934 – March 30, 2020) was an American writer and illustrator who created more than 260 children's books, such as '' Strega Nona''. He received the Children's Literature Legacy Award for his lifeti ...
produced a video program, ''Oliver Button is a STAR!,'' that was broadcast nationally on
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
in the fall of 2001 and spring of 2002. The video program is a documentary based on the Chorus' performance of Tomie dePaola's children's book, ''Oliver Button is a Sissy,'' and was further developed as a teaching tool for distribution to schools and families. The performance was repeated during the 2012–2013 season to raise awareness of school
bullying
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception (by the bully or by others) of an imba ...
.
Other notable events in the history of the TCGMC include: Performances with
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded originally as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, the Minnesota Orchestra plays most of its concerts at Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall.
History
Em ...
,
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) is a full-time professional chamber orchestra based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In collaboration with five Artistic Partners, the orchestra's musicians present more than 130 concerts and educational programs ea ...
, VocalEssence (Plymouth Music Series), Ballet of the Dolls, American composer
Ned Rorem
Ned Rorem (October 23, 1923 – November 18, 2022) was an American composer of contemporary classical music and writer. Best known for his art songs, which number over 500, Rorem was the leading American of his time writing in the genre. Althou ...
, and such noted gay and lesbian entertainers
Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Forbes Fierstein ( ; born June 6, 1952) is an American actor, playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for his theater work in ''Torch Song Trilogy'' and ''Hairspray'' and movie roles in ''Mrs. Doubtfire'', '' Independence Day'', and ...
,
Ann Hampton Callaway
Ann Hampton Callaway (born May 30, 1958) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and actress. She wrote and sang the theme song for the TV series ''The Nanny''.
Career
A native of Chicago, her father, John Callaway, was a journalist and her mot ...
,
Michael Feinstein
Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956) is an American singer, pianist, and music revivalist. He is an archivist and interpreter for the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for cele ...
and
Holly Near
Holly Near (born June 6, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, teacher, and activist.
Early years
Holly Near was born in Ukiah, California, United States, and was
raised on a ranch in Potter Valley, California. She was eight years o ...
. TCGMC has premiered over 25 commissioned works and has performed at major gay and lesbian choral festivals in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
,
Tampa
Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...
,
Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
(for which the TCGMC served as host, both in 1986 and in 2024). Regular appearances include Minnesota AIDS Walk, the
Twin Cities Pride
Twin Cities Pride, also known as Twin Cities GLBT Pride, is a nonprofit organization which runs an annual celebration in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota every June focusing on the LGBT community.
The celebration feature ...
festival, and concerts at Como Pavilion.
In 2003, the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus was honored with the
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGB ...
Minnesota 2003 " Brian Coyle Leadership Award" for serving the community through outreach and putting a face on the GLBT community. TCGMC also received special recognition in 2003 from ''
Lavender
''Lavandula'' (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found in Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, and from Europe across to northern and easte ...
'' magazine for "Best Benefit/Fundraiser" for Songs from the Heart and in 2003 & 2004 for "Best GLBT Music Group".
Capping off their 25th Anniversary season, the chorus embarked on the "Great Southern Sing-Out Tour" through five cities in six days in July 2006. Kicking off the tour in Nashville's prestigious
Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium (also known as Grand Ole Opry House and Union Gospel Tabernacle) is a 2,362-seat live-performance venue located at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, in Nashville, Tennessee. It is best known as the home of the ''Grand Ole Opry'' fr ...
, the chorus became the first gay organization to perform on the historic stage. From Tennessee, three bus loads of chorus members and supporters traveled to
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
;
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, officially the City of Jackson, is the Capital city, capital of and the List of municipalities in Mississippi, most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city is also one of two county seats of Hinds County, Mississippi, ...
;
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
.
In November 2006, TCGMC became the first gay men's chorus with the word "gay" in its name to perform for the
American Choral Directors Association
The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a non-profit organization with the stated purpose of promoting excellence in the field of choral music. Its membership comprises approximately 22,000 c ...
at an ACDA convention since 1986, when the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus successfully sued for inclusion after being accepted in a
blind audition In a blind audition the identity of the performer is concealed from the judges so as to prevent bias. The performance takes place behind a curtain so that the judges cannot see the performer. Blind auditions have become standard in symphony orchestr ...
, then denied when the blind was broken to reveal the word "gay" in its name.
One of the Chorus' recent works, '' Through A Glass, Darkly'', commissioned from New York composer Michael Shaieb, addresses the problem of methamphetamine addiction in the gay community. The bold, daring production premiered to critical acclaim in March 2008, playing to packed houses. The performance was recorded by
Twin Cities Public Television
Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. (abbreviated TPT, doing business as Twin Cities PBS) is a nonprofit organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, that operates the Twin Cities' two PBS member television stations, KTCA-TV (channe ...
for broadcast on
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
and production of a DVD released in the summer of 2008, and was featured at the 2008 GALA Choruses festival in Miami, Florida in July 2008. Additionally, the Chorus commissioned Shaieb to write a trilogy of songs based on texts by playwright
Tony Kushner
Anthony Robert Kushner (born July 16, 1956) is an American author, playwright, and screenwriter. Lauded for his work on stage he's most known for his seminal work ''Angels in America'' which earned a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. At the turn ...
, the first of which premiered at the
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963, is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The concept of the theater was born in 1959 in a series of discussions between Sir Tyrone Gut ...
's Kushner Festival in 2009, and ''Out of My Range'' which was performed at the 2012 GALA Choruses festival in Denver.
The Chorus' signature song, with which they end all concerts, is "
Walk Hand in Hand
"Walk Hand in Hand" is a popular song by Johnny Cowell, published in 1956.
The biggest-selling version recorded of the song was sung by Tony Martin, reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the United States ''Billboard'' ch ...
" composed by
Johnny Cowell Johnny Cowell (11 January 1926 in Tillsonburg, Ontario – 22 January 2018) was a Canadian trumpeter, composer and arranger.Tony Martin,
Ronnie Carroll
Ronnie Carroll (born Ronald Cleghorn; 18 August 1934 – 13 April 2015) was a Northern Irish singer, entertainer and political candidate.
Career
Carroll was born Ronald Cleghorn in 116 Roslyn Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1934, the son o ...
and
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified and three platinum certified. He was also nominated for six Grammy Awards. He hos ...
in 1956, during which the audience is encouraged to stand, join hands, and sing along. An upbeat dance remix was premiered in their spring 2008 concert, "Friends ARE Benefits".
Artistic Directors
* Larry Whitely, Music Director (1980
* Richard Weinberg, Music Director (1981-1988)
* Craig Carnahan, Interim Music Director (1988-1990)
* David Lohman, Music Director (1990-1994)
* Craig Carnahan, Artistic Director (1994-2000
* Dr. Stan Hill, Artistic Director (2000-2012)
* Dr. Ben Riggs, Artistic Director (2012-2017)
* Dr. Gerald Gurss, Artistic Director (2018- )
Executive Directors
* Joann Usher (2000-2007)
* Jon Lewis (2007-2009)
* Jeff Heine (2009-2019)
*Kevin Stocks (2019- )
Audience & Venues
Approximately 75% of the audience comes from the Twin Cities metro area, but through out-of-state advertising and performance outreach TCGMC performs to audiences in the surrounding cities and states. Research has further shown that about 52% of the audience identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. During its 25-year history, over 750 men have entertained over 200,000 audience members in the Twin Cities and around the country. Throughout the year, the Chorus performs in a variety of venues including their primary home, Ted Mann Concert Hall on the campus of the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...
, corporate offices, churches, parks and colleges. Weekly rehearsals are held at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis.
CDs
* ''Hand in Hand'' (1995)
* ''Sing Out!'' (1996)
* ''Holiday Fever'' (1998 cassette)
* ''Sing We Joyously Noël'' (1999)
* ''The Rainbow Connection'' (2000)
* ''Angels'' (2002)
* ''Metamorphosis'' (2004)
* ''What Sweeter Music'' (2004)
* ''Bang! Bang! The Music of Cher'' (2005)
* ''The Great Southern US Sing-Out Tour'' (2006)
* ''The 25th Anniversary Collection'' (2006)
* ''LifeSongs'' (2010)
* ''Out of My Range and Other Age-Related Performance Issues'' (2012)
* ''They Sang to Me'' (2012, digital download only)
* ''Joy'' (2014)
DVDs
* ''Oliver Button Is a Star*'' (1999)
* ''Through a Glass, Darkly'' (2008)