The SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band at last week’s Pride Concert.

The 29th annual Pride Concert was performed in a new venue last weekend, utilizing the excellent acoustics in the First Unitarian Universalist Church & Center. Entitled “Here’s Where I Stand,” it was a combination of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, with guest artists Voices Lesbian Choral Ensemble and GLAM (Gay, Lesbian, and Allied Musicians) Youth Choir.

Act one began with an appearance of Wilson Cruz, an actor in Logo network’s Noah’s Arc and a Grand Marshal in this year’s Pride Parade, who said he was once a choirboy and was appreciative of the power of freedom that singing can bring.  He said he was moved to tears when he heard the choruses rehearsing. Cruz introduced the seated SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band under the baton of Dr. Roberto-Juan Gonzalez (“a fellow Puerto Rican,” according to Cruz) performing Berlioz’ 1830 “March to the Scaffold” from Symphonie Fantastique. The piece tells the gory story of a condemned man’s march to a guillotine, serving as the composer’s protest against inhumane public executions to entertain bloodthirsty crowds in France. The Band then performed Percy Grainger’s “Irish Tune” from Country Derry, also known as “Oh Danny Boy,” which is said to be the favorite of the Band’s founder, the late John Reed Sims.

SF Gay Men’s Chorus, directed by Dr. Kathleen McGuire, sang a cappella “Caravan of Love,” with which the Isley Brothers had a hit in the mid-90s. Stephen Camarota sang the solo part, “Are you ready?” The men stood in a line encircling the audience with music, giving the acoustic effect of surround sound. At first when the Chorus was singing “Adiemus” from Songs of Sanctuary, I couldn’t understand the words. But when I read the program, it explained that the words by Karl Jenkins were made up akin to the vocal sounds in ethnic or world music. And for something completely different, the men sang “Accidentally in Love” from the cartoon feature, Shrek 2. “Music in My Singing” was commissioned by the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus in 1998 and was dedicated to all those who refuse to remain silent. “Make Them Hear You” from the musical Ragtime, tells of a man who stands up for his beliefs in a battle against racism. Likewise, each year we commemorate Pride and remember those transgenders and drag queens that stood up against homophobia in the Stonewall riots of June 1969. “Proud,” from TV’s Queer as Folk, was made even more sensational because of the superior solo by Cheri Toney.

Act two began with several selections by Voices Lesbian Choral Ensemble. Among the other pieces, they sang a cappella “I’m a World Citizen” and the Andrews Sisters’ ‘40s hit “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon,” which translates roughly from the Yiddish to “By Me, You Are Great.” And that is this reviewer’s opinion of the Ensemble’s truly great singing, under Artistic Director Yulia Ronskaya. The Band returned to play two Leroy Anderson pieces, “Serenata” and “Bugler’s Holiday,” featuring three soloists on trumpet. The Band’s final number has always been an inspirational tune that you just can’t help tapping your feet to – “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillip Sousa. This version was especially fun, because it featured four soloists on piccolos, in a relatively rare rendition. The Lesbian/Gay Chorus returned under the baton of Stephanie Lynne Smith to sing a number to the tune of the children’s song, “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic,” but with quite different adult lyrics to become “The Lesbians’ Potluck,” written by June Bonacich, composer of the group’s hit musical, Group Therapy. It was complete with living bushes and plenty of picnic baskets. They also sang “Gay Little Nymph,” a 16th century piece that they did simply for the reason that, as Smith put it, “We like this song because the word “gay” is in it. Trust me, they were way trés gay and queenly in their choreography and over-the-top presentation, that might have made composer Pierre Rosard turn over in his grave. Just delightful. They then sang a piece originally performed by the Manhattan Transfer, “The Offbeat of Avenues.” “LGCSF loves complicated choreography with a good beat and words that make very little sense,” Smith explained. Which is not the case with “Look to the Rainbow” from the musical, Finian’s Rainbow. If I have to explain their motivation, you are just not very well versed concerning that universal Pride symbol. Soloist Tom McElroy provided a sweet lyric voice to the piece. “For Now” is from the musical, Avenue Q, and musically assures that whatever awful thing you are dealing with is not forever, but just for now. The Chorus worked their purple fedoras like a Bob Fosse dance troupe. Impressive!

All the choral groups joined together for the rousing finale with the event’s title song, “Here’s Where I Stand” from the motion picture, Camp. Wendy Tobias added to the number with her strong soprano solo. It was the perfect sort of “Up With People” ending to a concert that was all about LGBTQ Pride!!!