Road Trip - Rochester Gay Men`s Chorus
Transcription
Road Trip - Rochester Gay Men`s Chorus
Keynotes June 2012 The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus Road Trip Saturday, June 16th at Hochstein Performance Hall This June, the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus will take you on a summer vacation trip across our great country and beyond! In March, we talked about our “Constant Craving” to explore “Wide Open Spaces,” and now we get to prove that we are men of action, stopping at some of our favorite locations along the way. The repertoire for Road Trip varies as much as the accents and cuisine across our great land do as we sing classics ranging from jazz to pop to Broadway and beyond, including “Georgia on My Mind,” “California Dreamin’,” “New York, New York,” and the title song from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! In addition to these and other familiar songs, we will feature two newer works - late gay American composer Lee Hoiby’s “Last Letter Home,” composed in 2006, and the world-premiere of the male chorus version of “Were the World Mine” from the 2008 movie of the same name. We are happy to share this journey with you. As always, the concert will feature our singers as soloists, instrumentalists, and dancers, including the wonderful Rochettes, who are thrilled to shuffle off to Buffalo and beyond. We are so excited to share this exciting mix with you and cannot June 16, 2012 8 pm Hochstein Performance Hall (Continued on next page) wait to take you on our cross-country musical journey. See you then! Tickets and further information is available at www.thergmc.org. Tickets can also be purchased at Parkleigh, Outlandish, Equal=Grounds or by calling (585) 423-0650. In this issue Chorus member spotlight Donor spotlight Out on the town Spring Fling RGMC to celebrate 30 years Donor list Chorus Member spotlight is on Jason Juliano KEYNOTES would like to spotlight and offer an update on one of our newer members, Jason Juliano. Jason grew up in Batavia, New York where, after graduating from high school, he attended Genesee Community College, SUNY Geneseo, and Bryant and Stratton College. He is single and still lives in Batavia where he enjoys working with his father as an agent for Allstate Insurance. Music has always been important to Jason, and he has performed in many productions since 1994. In 2007 he founded the WNY Arts Society, a local theater troupe, whose most recent production was RENT. His hobbies are singing, performing, and, now, producing shows in Batavia. Jason joined the RGMC after meeting Rob Strauss at a holiday party. The chorus’ members make him feel welcome and he enjoys sharing his talents with this group of fine singers. His first concert was Walking on Sunshine in June of 2011. On Thursday night, February 16th at 9:30 PM, Jason was on the Inner Loop heading home after chorus rehearsal when he was struck head-on by a drunk driver heading the wrong way. His car was totaled and he was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. His left leg was shattered and he suffered severe facial lacerations. A titanium rod was inserted in his leg and will remain there for life. His face will require plastic surgery in the near future to repair the damages. Jason spent nine days in the hospital and is still recuperating at home. He is undergoing physical therapy both in and out of the pool, or, as he calls it, a “Surf & Turf ” regimen. Jason’s only outlet during this period was RGMC. His mom drove him to rehearsals and he sang in the March concert, Lassos and Chaps and Spurs… Oh My! The overwhelming outpouring of love and support from family and friends including the RGMC meant much to him. The many cards, phone calls, Facebook posts, and more all kept him in high spirits. He is on the road to recovery and has been driving for one month. He is looking forward to returning to work, at least part-time, soon. He has high praise for the RGMC community and we have high praise and admiration for him. Look for Jason in our June concert, Road Trip. Donor spotlight is on Elizabeth Alexander Elizabeth was born and raised in Rochester. She graduated from Fairport High School and Elmira College for her undergraduate degree. She attended the University of Rochester for graduate school and is the Director of Medical/ Surgical Nursing at Thompson Health in Canandaigua, New York. She lives in the Park Avenue neighborhood in Rochester with her husband, Matt, and their dog, Jorge Posada Alexander, where they all enjoy walks around the area and Jorge enjoys barking at all the other dogs and young professionals who live there. Both Elizabeth and Matt’s families still live in the area. Matt’s folks are in Spencerport and Elizabeth’s mother and brother live in Fairport. Elizabeth first became acquainted with the RGMC when she and her father heard the group sing at the Lilac Festival. Both enjoyed the concert immensely and became supporters of the organization that same day. Since their introduction to the group, Elizabeth became a board member of the RGMC in September of 2008. She had a close friend who was on the board of directors, and, with her experience of being on the board for the Junior League of Rochester, she was invited to join our board. With John Owen at the helm, she had the opportunity to see the RGMC Board move from more management oversight to a governance-oriented approach to leadership. This was an invaluable change that ensures strong strategic growth for the future, and Elizabeth was thrilled to be part of this transition. According to Elizabeth, the RGMC is a valuable resource in the Rochester community for both outreach and entertainment. She is amazed by the level of commitment, energy, and passion each member brings to the group. She appreciates all that the singers, staffers, and volunteers do for the organization. We appreciate all the time and energy Elizabeth has given over the years. With her term ending, we shall miss her presence at board meetings, but look forward to seeing her at future events. Thank you, Elizabeth… The RGMC is looking for volunteers who can help at the concerts, during retreats, in the office and with other tasks. If you are interested in more information on positions available, please call the Chorus Line at 585-423-0650 The RGMC Celebrates 30 Years ROCHESTER GAY MEN’S CHORUS 30TH ANNIVERSARY 1982/1983 - 2012/2013 The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus’s 30th Anniversary will be celebrated during our 2012-2013 season. A planning committee has been formed and is currently holding preliminary discussions on how to honor all the wonderful people who have been a part of RGMC’s history. Some of the proposed ideas include inviting past members and directors to participate in concerts, inviting nearby choruses which we helped found to sing, bringing back some of our favorite dance numbers, singing a song or two from RGMC’s earliest concerts, and displaying pictures of members and events over the years on the screen. Other ideas involved post-concert parties, dinners, a brunch on Sunday as a way to extend a concert/party weekend, and expanding the chorus’s “Spring Fling” fundraiser into an anniversary celebration. The committee also wants to collect pictures from members and fans to build a pictorial historical album. An updated written history will be documented after collecting programs from some of our first concerts. One RGMC Board member who is co-chairing this committee is chorus member Alan Van Camp. He would like to hear from anyone with ideas to offer and memories to share at [email protected]. The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus, by nurturing pride in and acceptance of the diversity of our communities, creates social change through excellence in the choral arts. Graphic Design, Sam Nicolosi Mr Jean G. Thibodeau C.P.A. 6780 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd # 2-B Fairport, NY 14450 586-6160 For all your Tax and Accounting needs: “Call the Gay CPA” Over 20 years of experience 2012 Season 2013 December 14 and 15, 2012 8 pm Hochstein Performance Hall Tickets available at:Parkleigh, Outlandish, Equal=Grounds On line at www.thergmc.org March 23, 2013 8 pm Hochstein Performance Hall Tickets available at:Parkleigh Outlandish, Equal=Grounds On line at www.thergmc.org 30TH ANNIVERSARY JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT December 14th & 15th, 2012 8 PM Hochstein Performance Hall The first concert of our 30th anniversary will prove that we are exactly that - Joyful and Triumphant! We are so happy to have been leaders in the Rochester Community as we’ve fought the battles of the ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s and today as we have found more and more acceptance in society and have been granted the rights that we so clearly deserve - so we’re going to take a moment to celebrate! This concert will be our best holiday concert ever as we bring back favorites from our last 29 holiday concerts and introduce some new songs. This concert is sure to put you in a joyful and triumphant mood. 30TH ANNIVERSARY THE BOYS IN THE BAND: From Doo-Wop to MMMBop March 23rd, 2013 8 PM Hochstein Performance Hall Although the term “Boy Band” didn’t exist until the 1990s, the groups sure did. Each generation has grown-up loving (perhaps obsessed with?) the boys’ music, wanting to look like them, and wishing to steal a kiss (we certainly did). We aim to keep you warm after another Rochester winter as we include many secret crushes while we sing music spanning the years, incorporating music of great artists from the Four Aces to the Beatles to the Backstreet Boys and Hanson and even newbies like One Direction and The Wanted. Tickets available at:Parkleigh, Outlandish, Equal=Grounds On line at www.thergmc.org 30TH ANNIVERSARY THE RAINBOW CONNECTION June 15th, 2013 8 PM Hochstein Performance Hall In May 1983, a new musical group took the stage for the very first time, and now the history-making group will celebrate its 30th anniversary in true RGMC fashion, by not only showing that “It” gets better, but that it will, it has, and so have we! We will celebrate National LGBT Pride Month by singing in celebration of LGBT victories during our existence. as we sing songs of pride, empowerment, and celebration, as well as of rainbows and what’s on the other side. KEYNOTES is the official newsletter of the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus and is published three times a year. The RGMC is solely responsible for its editorial content. Gay Men’s Chorus is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2011 RGMC Inc., 121 N. Fitzhugh St. #325, Rochester, NY 14614-1214, (585) 423-0650 KEYNOTES is a collaboration of several talented people. To place an advertisement, contact the RGMC at the chorus office at (585) 423-0650. Reproduction of editorial or photographic content without consent of the Rochester Privacy Statement: The RGMC is very concerned with keeping your personal information private. The RGMC will not share or sell personal information to any third party. Lassos and Chaps and Spurs, Oh My! Also taking place in the month of March was the second concert of our 20112012 concert cycle. We’re proud to say that the show went off without a hitch, and the rootinest, tootinest singing cowboys in all of Rochester had a wild time! Featuring dance numbers by the Rochettes including “Bad Things” (the theme from the hit HBO series True Blood) by Jace Everett as well as numerous solo and ensemble features, the RGMC performed selections made famous by such performers as Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Rascal Flatts, Patsy Cline, and k.d. lang, as well as the film that introduced much of America to cowboy lovin’, Brokeback Mountain. Thanks to all our fans, friends, and family who attended Lassos and Chaps and Spurs, ...Oh My! photos by Nick Donovan and Amy Scolaro Carey Lake It is about time. Carey Lake offers a Victorian and timeless wedding and event experience, complete with gardens, pond, fireworks, a grande gazebo, hand carved furniture, and two fireplaces, and a stage... all situated on 220 acres Located just outside of Penfield on rt 441 959 Penfield Road, Macedon 14502 315-986-1936 ask for Stephanie Careylake.com Your financial needs are unique. Whether you want to provide for your loved ones, support the organizations that are important to you, or plan for your own comfortable retirement, I can help you plan for your goals. I’ll look at all aspects of your finances, then find solutions that are right for your unique needs. And as your goals and needs change, I’ll be there to adjust your plan and help put your dreams within reach. Our Advisors. Your Dreams. MORE WITHIN REACH® Call me today at (585) 292.9850 Patricia T. Deane, CRPC®, ADPA® Financial Advisor 2024 W. Henrietta Rd. Suite 5D Rochester, NY 14623 585-292-9850 ext.22 [email protected] www.ameripriseadvisors.com/ patricia.t.deane Ameriprise Financial is proud to be recognized with another perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. Brokerage, investment and financial advisory services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. © 2012 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. A heartfelt thank you to our donors The majority of operating funds for non-profit organizations come from individuals. You are important to the future of RGMC. Your tax-deductible contribution helps pay the cost of concert production, office management and future development. We are grateful for your previous heartfelt gifts and look forward to your continued support. The RGMC would like to recognize those individuals who have contributed financially during the past year. photo by Brian Sprouse Maestro ($1000 and over) Jacqueline Archer John Dash Bob Foley and Mike Alvarez Chuck Lundeen and John Williams John Owen Edward T Schell III Diva ($750 - $999) Peter Elliott Alan Van Camp and Rob Anderson Crooner ($500 - $749) Elizabeth and Matt Alexander H Darrell Lance Jim Janssen and Carl Norcross J David and Margo McCloskey Todd Perkins and Mark Ritter Terry Quataert AH Stiller Dr. Robert Strauss and Jeffrey Greene John Yavonditte and Thom Hutchison Patron ($250 -$499) Barbara E Ames and Nancy E Kennedy Evelyn Bailey Shirley Bowen and Tracy Perkins David Clinton Richard Connett Douglas Deeley Richard and Nancy Fitts Randall Fulton and Wayne Wichern Norman L Horton Gerard Ioannone Linda Krehling Dan Meyers and Jim Pugliese Peter Nickles and James Lewis Gregory Partridge and Douglas Potter Patricia and William Strauss Sally and Jamie Whitbeck Prima ($125 - $249) Lon Baratz and Joseph Arena Carolee A Conklin Teresa and Anthony DiBenedetto Giuseppi Erba and Mark Pierzynski Christine and Walter Fendley Kevin J Frisch James Hazen Kris Hunt and Dee Miller Robert and Elaine Jacobson Gary Keleher and John McIntyre Michael Kusovich and Steven Brewer Tim O Mains and David P Gardner Ron Matter Christopher McCormack Joan McCormack H Winn McCray and Robert Johnson Glenn Nixon Vera S Powley The Rochester Rams Henry A Schroeder Judy and Al Schwartz David Skinner and David Knoll Mark A Smith Laurie and Mark Van Camp Karen and Walter Von Kaenel Charleen and Leeroy Williams Marty Zuber Friends of RGMC (Under $125) Anonymous Eugen Baer Agneta Borgstedt Del and Marilyn Borer John and Linda Clifford Margaret Corbin Dee Dee Corcimiglia and Meredith Reiniger In Honor of David and David, Robin Cowdery George Cunic Melanie and Deborah Deguid-May Morey and Barb DeMay J Ernest DuBois Peter Fedele Douglas Feldman Todd Fogle Marie France Etienne Daniel Fry Timothy Geen Robert and Howard Green John Griffith and Charlene Sherwood Paul Haney In Honor of David and David, Frank Hanzel Michael Hardy Cat and Rusty In Honor of Frank Hanzel, Marjory Henninger Steven Jarose and Marvin Ritzenthaler Jason Juliano Ann E Kaplow In Honor of David and David, John and Gary In honor of Steven Jarose and Marvin Ritzenthaler, Kim Kimball Kristen Kessler Lee and Pam Koon Thomas Krolak Dr, Ronald Kwasman Noreen Mastro and Arlene Sherman In honor of John Owen, Dan and Pam McInerney Thomas Menzel Nina Miller and Christine Fritsch Bud Minard Pat Moran Paul E Mura Raymond and Eleanor Newell Bob Read and Tom Orsini Millie Piccione Richard and Shirley Quataert Donald R Rogers John Rutkowski and Fr. John Andrews Schuber Liquor Store In memory of Bill and Don, Ken Setera Eleanor Siegfried Joseph Termotto Ric Thomann Mike Touhey and Ron Berry Mario Trottier and Marshall Simonsen Gerald Unks Naomi Van Camp Cyril Waugh RL Wilder Beth and Roger Wilhelm In Honor of David and David, John Williams and Chuck Lundeen Nicholas Williams Robert J Wolfe RGMC to Head to Denver in July 2012 by Dennis W. Rosenbaum new, highly polished and exuberantly joyful. Singers who are so inclined also have the opportunity to sing in joint choruses with singers from other GALA choruses, an experience which helps both in developing their musicianship, and in making new friends. The opportunity for RGMC to perform as a chorus in front of an audience of other GALA singers is a very special one, and the memories of those performances last a lifetime. Photo by Brian Sprouse If you read the program carefully at an RGMC concert, you’ll notice that the chorus is a proud member of GALA Choruses. You may have wondered exactly what that means. Well, the Gay And Lesbian Association (GALA) of Choruses is an umbrella organization which provides support to its member choruses to help them develop artistically and professionally. GALA does this by providing administrative support when needed, by holding leadership conferences and singers’ weekends every year, and by hosting an international festival for its member choruses every four years. The next festival will be held in Denver in July 2012, and the RGMC will be in attendance. fixture at the next several festivals. The chorus also attended festivals in Seattle in 1989, Denver in 1992, Miami in 1996, San Jose in 2000, and Montreal in 2004. RGMC chose not to perform in the 2008 festival in Miami, but a few members attended on their own. RGMC is looking forward to performing again in Denver in 2012. GALA held its first festival, entitled COAST (Come Out And Sing Together) in 1983. Festivals were held every three years up until 1992, when the timeline was widened to every four years. Although a few members of RGMC did attend the COAST festival in 1983, the full chorus did not participate in a festival until the second such gathering in Minneapolis in 1986. Members reported the experience to be an exhilarating one, and RGMC became a GALA festivals have historically been one week long, although in 2012, the length will be shortened to four and a half days to cut down on expenses. Festivals provide a wonderful opportunity to meet and make friends with other LGBT singers from around the globe, as well as an excellent opportunity to travel either to new or favorite locations. Singers also have an opportunity to hear other choruses, large and small, old and I’ve been to three GALA festivals, and I can only describe the experience as magical. I have heard glorious music performed by other choruses, some of which has also been performed in Rochester. I have worked with some fine conductors and seen some beautiful cities. I have formed some wonderful, lasting friendships with people from other GALA choruses. But perhaps the crowning achievement for me was having a piece of music that I wrote performed in Montreal. Watching the crowd’s enthusiastic reaction to the piece grow when they realized that the composer was present and on-stage was a moment I’ll never forget. It’s also one I hope to repeat. As with any trip of this magnitude, there will be costs associated with attending the 2012 GALA Festival. Travel, lodging, and registration costs all add up, and the chorus will be looking for ways to defray the cost for some of its members. You can help by contributing to the fund set up by RGMC for this festival. Please consider donating to help the RGMC’s members experience the magic of a GALA Festival. The chorus will reap benefits that will be shared with its audience for years to come. Spring Fling Promised and Delivered a Fun-Filled Afternoon for Everyone. Photo by Brian Sprouse This year’s RGMC Annual Fundraiser, Head Out on the Highway, was held on Sunday, May 20th from 4-8 PM. Building on the success of our recent spring fundraisers, this year’s event was a festive party featuring music, food, drinks, a silent auction, special guests, performances from the chorus, and so much more. We were thrilled to hold our Spring Fling this year at the eclectic ARTISANWorks. We featured food donated by area restaurants and caterers, the piano stylings of Peter Nickles, Michael Sacco, Ed Schell, and John Williams, the jazz sounds of KristenJazz Trio featuring Pat Abbott, Kristen Shiner-McGuire, and Barry Tee, and our very own Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus singing selections from our upcoming Road Trip! We had a silent auction featuring over thirty items, and, for the first time ever, a live art auction of pieces selected at the walk through two weeks before and led by Louis Perticone, ARTISANworks founder. We were also thrilled to honor Assembly member Harry B. Bronson for his contributions to the LGBT community, following previous honorees Tim Tompkins (2011) and Lieutenant Governor Robert J. Duffy (2010). This great combination of food, friends, fun and fabulous led to a wonderful evening! Although the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus is lucky enough to have large, enthusiastic audiences at all our concerts, no performing arts organization can hope to make its operating budgets through ticket sales (we make just less than a third), and so successful events like this are crucial for us to continue serving you. Thanks to the planning committee, especially chair Jeffrey Greene, for the countless hours spent putting this together. Jeffrey and Devin Palmesano-Beach, Kennan Beckstrand, Richard Connett, Carole Diaz, Nick Donovan, Kristen Kessler, Darrell Killingsworth, Peter Nickles, Sam Nicolosi, Dennis Pratt, Ed Schell, Robert Strauss, Matt Ulakovic, and our honorary chairperson, Harry B. Bronson rounded out the committee. We would like to extend a special thank you to Adele Arberger, Donna Beane, Jeff Bouvy, James Campbell, John Elliott, David Proctor, and Lynn Zicari for their assistance as they served us all evening long, to Personal Designs Inc. for the floral arrangements, and to Equal=Grounds, Hedonist Artisan Chocolates, Madeline’s Catering, Norton’s Pub, Salvatore’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria, Tasteful Connections, UNO Chicago Grill, and Willie Jackson Catering for providing food for us. Thank you again in making this year’s fundraising efforts a complete success! See you at our concert June 16th! Sincerely, RGMC Board of Directors RGMC Spring Fling Committee Spring Fling 2011 All Photos by Brian Sprouse RGMC Out on the Town Northeast Regional Prides In March, the RGMC showcased some of the amazing talent Rochester has to offer for Northeast Regional Prides, a division of InterPride which has been in existence since 1981. The event held its annual conference in Rochester this year, and we were filled with pride indeed at the opportunity to close out the night by performing at the closing dinner. The chorus performed songs from our last concert Lassos and Chaps and Spurs, Oh My! including “Cowboy, Take Me Away,” by the Dixie Chicks and “A Love that Will Never Grow Old,” by Emmylou Harris. Cruisin’ With Cupid For a special Valentine’s Day treat, staffers at the RGMC hosted a brand new gay male speed dating event at the Flour City Diner this past February! Guests got to meet over a dozen new Romeos and Casanovas during the two-hour session. They enjoyed drinks as well as tasty delights from Dollop Gourmet Cupcake Creations, and all proceeds from the event went to benefit RGMC. We’re proud to say that almost all of our guests found a match! If you are interested in future LGBT speed dating events, contact the RGMC at www.thergmc.org Photo by Jeff Mills Just Desserts Geva Nextstage hosted two world-class artists in April. Kathryn Cowdrick and Benton Hess of the Eastman School of Music were welcomed to Geva’s theatre for a performance of Lee Hoiby’s Bon Appétit. Local professionals also performed as well including our own artistic director, Dr. Robert Strauss! Those in attendance delighted in an opportunity to mingle with the artists, enjoyed a glass of wine, and bid on baked goods from The Baking Bear, Delish Bakery, and Savoia Pastry Shoppe, among many other wonderful prizes. Proceeds of the performance benefited the RGMC. Jewish Community Center Event The RGMC is honored to have performed at the JCC’s exhibit, Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933–1945 at the opening of the exhibit on May 24. The exhibit, focusing on the atrocities committed specifically against homosexuals during the holocaust, is a part of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and travels across the country throughout the year. At the event, the RGMC performed: “Make Them Hear You” from RAGTIME by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens (arr. Jeff Funk), “To Love and To Be Loved” by Wayne Chadwick (arr. Ken Surley), and “Color Out of Colorado” by Dick Gallagher & Mark Waldrop (arr. Larry Moore). The RGMC humbly thanks the JCC for the opportunity to have been a part of such a meaningful and important historical exhibit. Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus 121 N. Fitzhugh St., Suite #325 Rochester, NY 14614-1214 Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid Rochester, NY Permit No. 613 2012 Return Service Requested Parade and Picnic The RGMC will proudly kick off its 30th “birthday” by participating in Rochester Pride 2012. We are eager to get the party started by participating in both the Parade (July 14th) and Picnic (July 15th). The theme this year, as voted on by the Rochester Gay Alliance, is “Pride Power: Super Heroes.” Whatever will we do? As always, that will remain top secret until the parade, but we hope that you will make plans to come out and support the event (and cheer most loudly for us of course)! We would also like to invite you to stop by and see us at the picnic. Last year, as you may remember, the RGMC won the Community Award in the parade and won 3rd place as “Proudest Picnic Site.” We were glad to accept the award and completely elated to have won! This year we plan on pumping up the pride even more at both events. We hope to see you there!