Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus

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Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus
Also known as MGLC
Origin Flag of Australia Melbourne, Australia
Genre(s) Broadway, choral, classical, jazz, popular
Occupation(s) Choir
Instrument(s) ca. 100 voices
Years active 1990-present
Associated acts Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus
Website www.mglc.org.au
Members
Assistant Musical Directors
Melchor Pablo, Adrian Schultz
Youth Chorus Musical Director
Adrian Schultz
Youth Chorus Assistant Musical Director
Ben Kiley
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Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus (MGLC), the first gay and lesbian choral organisation in the Southern Hemisphere, was founded in Australia in 1990 by gay performer and activist, Lawrence McGuire (1966 - ). The chorus was first named ALSOUNDS, due in part to its affiliation with the ALSO Foundation.[1] In April, 1994, the name was changed to Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus, reflecting the chorus's organisational independence and a desire to further challenge stereotypes.

Contents

[edit] Background

[edit] Gay Choirs in Australia, 1981-1991

The first gay choir in Australia was the Gay Liberation Quire, an all-male, Sydney-based chorus. It began in 1981, and disbanded c. 1987.[2] McGuire, unaware of the Sydney group, learned for the first time of the existence of gay choruses while listening to an LP record, The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Tours America 1981, at a party. Inspired by the discovery, McGuire, along with his roommates (including his sister, Kathleen, and gay friend Tuck Wah Leong),[3] discussed the notion of forming a gay and lesbian choir in Melbourne. McGuire wanted to form a choir specifically with gay men and women in an effort to unify these sometimes divergent groups. AIDS had already caused much devastation in the gay community, and he believed that a choir would help to lift spirits and be a positive expression against homophobia.[4] With a small group of men and women, both gay and straight, the first rehearsal was held on April 28, 1990.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir (SGLC) began less than a year later in January 1991, independent of the Melbourne chorus. Rob Holland founded SGLC in response to the lack of Australian representation in the Cultural Festival of the Vancouver Gay Games, held in August, 1990.[5]

[edit] Conductors

MGLC’s first Music Director was Trevor Dunn. Dunn, who was a music teacher at Kilbreda College - a Catholic girls' high school in Mentone, directed the group for a number of years before succumbing to AIDS.

Following a series of short-term conductors, Tuck Wah Leong took the helm as Music Director c. 1994 and directed the MGLC's first, award-winning CD and its first international tour.[6]

In 2001, MGLC appointed conductor Adrian Kirk, under whose direction the chorus developed a more sophisticated, classical sound.[7]

Jonathon Welch - of the renowned operatic trio: Tenor Australis, and former conductor of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir - served as MGLC's Music Director from 2005 to 2007.

Adrian Schultz, the director of the Youth chorus, is acting director.

[edit] Community Involvement

Since its inception, the MGLC has provided support and outreach to the GLBTI community. Examples of regular community appearances include: annual Stonewall commemorative service for the Metropolitan Community Church; World AIDS Day ceremonies and services for the People Living With AIDS; Australia Day Picnic for GLBTI radio station, JOY Melbourne 94.9 FM.

[edit] Youth Chorus

In August, 2005, MGLC founded the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Youth Chorus, the first chorus of its kind in Australasia. They have performed separately and with the main chorus at numerous events, and are putting together their first CD separate from the main choir.

[edit] Achievements

[edit] Awards

  • 1st Prize, Community Choir Section, Boroondara Eisteddfod, 1995
  • Best Choir Award, Australian National Festival of the Voice, 1996
  • Best Debut Recording, Gay and Lesbian Music Awards (US), 1998
  • Rainbow Award, Best Live Performance, 2004
  • Rainbow Award, Best Live Performance, 2005
  • Rainbow Award, Best New Community Event for Youth Chorus's debut concert, 2006

[edit] Touring

[edit] Performance Highlights

[edit] Affiliations

MGLC is an affiliate member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses) and a member of the Australian National Choral Association.

[edit] Discography

  • Kaleidoscope (1996)
  • Inflight (1998)
  • Feelin’ Groovy (2006)
  • Evolution (2006)

[edit] References

  1. ^ About Us - History. ALSO Foundation. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
  2. ^ Gay Liberation Quire - god help you merry dykes and poofs. Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.; see also The Gay Liberation Quire, of Sydney, Australia. Queer Music Heritage. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
  3. ^ In later years, Kathleen McGuire, became the Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (2000), and Tuck Wah Leong served as MGLC's gay pianist and then Music Director.
  4. ^ According to Lawrence McGuire and Tuck Wah Leong in interviews with the present author.
  5. ^ What is the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir?. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
  6. ^ Artist bio Biography, Tuck Wah Leong. The University of Melbourne. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
  7. ^ Biography, Adrian Kirk. Allegro Music Australia. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.

[edit] External links