Seattle Men's Chorus (SMC) is an LGBTQ community chorus based in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

. The group was founded in 1979, and today is, along with Seattle Women's Chorus, the largest community choral organization in North America. SMC is a member of

GALA Choruses The Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses ("GALA Choruses") is an international association of LGBT choruses founded in 1982. In its inaugural performance 14 choruses performed together in September 1982 in San Francisco as part of the first Gay ...

and Chorus America. SMC has been led by conductor and artistic director, Paul Caldwell, since 2016.

History

The first rehearsal was held in September 1979. In the spring of 1980, the first official SMC concert was held at the

Museum of History and Industry The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is a history museum in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the largest private heritage organization in Washington state, maintaining a collection of nearly fou ...

. Dennis Coleman became SMC's conductor in May 1981. SMC became a founding member of the GALA Choruses when it was incorporated in July 1983. On the 25th anniversary of Stonewall, the SMC marched in the New York City Pride Parade and sang with the New York City Chorus at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

Performances

SMC performs several regularly scheduled concerts each year, regularly hosting celebrity guests such as

Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Dawn Chenoweth (; born Kristi Dawn Chenoweth; July 24, 1968)Kristin Cheno ...

Tituss Burgess Tituss Burgess (born February 21, 1979) is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in several Broadway musicals and is known for his high tenor voice. He is best known for starring as Titus Andromedon on the Netflix comedy series '' Unbre ...

Leslie Jordan Leslie Allen Jordan (April 29, 1955 – October 24, 2022) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and singer. His television roles include Beverley Leslie on ''Will & Grace'' (2001–2006 and 2017–2020), several characters in the ''American ...

Kelli O'Hara Kelli Christine O'Hara (born April 16, 1976) is an American actress and singer, most known for her work on the Broadway and opera stages. An eight-time Tony Award nominee, O'Hara won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her perfor ...

Betty Buckley Betty Buckley (born July 3, 1947)LuKanic, Steven A (1995). Film Actors Guide'. Los Angeles, CA: Lone Eagle Publishing. p. 55. . is an American actress and singer. Buckley is the winner of a Tony Award, and was nominated for an additional Ton ...

and

Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer and entrepreneur. Her acting career spanned almost 70 years. Reynolds performed on stage and television and in films into her 80s. She was nom ...

, to name but a few. For director Coleman's last program, the SMC performed "Legacy". Legacy contained two original compositions that honored gay figures: ''I Am Harvey Milk'', written by

Andrew Lippa Andrew Lippa (born December 22, 1964) is an American composer, lyricist, libretto, book writer, performer, and theatrical producer, producer. He is a resident artist at the Ars Nova Theater in New York City. Early life Lippa was born in Leeds, E ...

about San Francisco politician and activist

Harvey Milk Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, 1930 – November 27, 1978) was an American politician and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Milk was born and raised i ...

, and the ''Tyler Suite'' about Rutgers student

Tyler Clementi Tyler Clementi (December 19, 1991 – September 22, 2010) was an American student at Rutgers University–New Brunswick who jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River on September 22, 2010, at the age of 18. On ...

. In June 2023,

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

partnered with SMC for Disney PRIDE in Concert at the historic Paramount Theatre.

Discography

* Bustin' Out All Over * Captured Live!! * Fruit of the Month Club * Holiday Traditions * Home * Joy * Over The Rainbow! 2000 * The Pink Album * Silver Bells * Snowbound! * Soul Full * Swellegant Elegance * UnderCover * We Are Family

References

External links

Official Website Seattle Men's Chorus

Stephen R. Blair Papers.
1919-1996. 1 cubic foot (2 boxes). {{Authority control 1979 establishments in Washington (state) Choirs in Washington (state) Gay culture in Washington (state) Gay men's choruses LGBTQ culture in Seattle Musical groups established in 1979 LGBTQ choruses in the United States

History

Performances

Discography

See also

References

External links