Photo by Rink

GLAM (Gay, Lesbian & Allied Musicians) Youth Choir needed help getting to Vancouver in June, so they held a fundraiser at the LGBT Community Center. The Bay Area’s first queer youth chorus, which began rehearsing in February, has been invited to Vancouver, BC to perform at GLASS (Gay, Lesbian And Supportive) Youth Choir’s fifth anniversary concert on Friday, June 2. GLASS Youth Choir was the world’s first queer youth chorus, and inspired the formation of GLAM last year when they came to San Francisco for the San Francisco Pride Concert. GLAM Youth Choir needed to raise additional funds in order for the members to be able to travel to Vancouver and represent San Francisco at this important event.

The fundraiser, sponsored by The Center, featured a special debut performance by GLAM. Dr. Kathleen McGuire, Gay Men’s Chorus director and GLAM steering committee chair, was proud to announce that in the last few weeks, the number of singers had doubled. She was also thrilled that GLASS contributed all their net proceeds from last year as a gift to their “cousins.” GLAM performs under the direction of Buddy Symes.

Anna Damiani from Assemblyman Mark Leno’s office presented a certificate of recognition from the assemblyman.

GLAM performed “Make Your Own Kind of Music” with the very apropos lyrics: “Sing your own special song, even if nobody else sings along” to underscore the pride of being queer. The choir encouraged the audience to sing along joyfully with those words of the chorus.

Then Symes introduced Robert, a transgender member of the choir who is in the process of the FTM transformation. He told an extremely moving story about his journey to finding his true self and being encouraged to sing loudly and proudly with GLAM, who welcomed him with open arms. His story moved much of the audience to tears. Especially when the entire choral group gave Robert a big, warm, group hug.

They next sang a song specially arranged by McGuire entitled “Moon Upon My Shoulder.” “We’re singing about the earth, moon, and stars—things that are constant and we can really rely upon,” Symes explained. “Something that is really fabulous in our lives.” This reviewer was especially impressed with the lyrics: “I used to be afraid to look inside. The place where fear and dreams collide. No more, no more.”

Sponsors of GLAM, among others, are SF Gay Men’s Chorus, Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, Betty’s List, Horizons Foundation, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc., and Metropolitan Community Foundation. McGuire was ecstatic to announce a more than generous $2,000 dollar donation from calligrapher Alan Blackman. He said he had recently received an inheritance and wanted to give back to the community, and wanted to start with the worthy beneficiary of GLAM.

GLAM is also preparing for a special guest appearance–their “official” San Francisco debut–at 7 pm on Friday, June 23 at the 28th Annual Pride Concert, “We Are What We Are,” co-presented by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco. “We Are What We Are” will feature special guest blues diva Candye Kane and a wide variety of music ranging from Sweet Honey in the Rock and En Vogue to Manhattan Transfer and music from the musicals Chess, Fame, and La Cage aux Folles. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Community Box Office at (415) 865-ARTS. I am sure we all wish a hearty Bon Voyage to GLAM on their goodwill appearance.