Diverse Harmony
{{Short description|American youth chorus}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
Diverse Harmony is an American youth chorus based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2002, it is the first Gay-Straight Alliance youth chorus in the United States.{{cite web
| last = Harmanci
| first = Reyhan
| title= A Note On Change:'Why We Sing!' Documentary explores choral music's appeal and how it fosters community
| publisher=San Francisco Chronicle
| date=24 August 2006
| url =http://www.whywesing.org/media/pdf/Why_We_Sing_Chron_Press.pdf
| access-date=2008-07-29}} {{Dead link|date=September 2009}}{{cite web
|title=GALA Choruses 25th Anniversary Timeline
|publisher=GALA Choruses
|year=2008
|url=http://www.galachoruses.org/publications/GALA_Timeline.pdf
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518110711/http://www.galachoruses.org/publications/GALA_Timeline.pdf
|archivedate=2008-05-18
|title=LGBT youth choir to benefit from Thumper's fundraiser One Night Only,'a gala evening of cabaret to raise funds for Diverse Harmony'
|publisher=Seattle Gay News
|year=2006
|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_40/page11.cfm
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709005351/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_40/page11.cfm
|archivedate=2008-07-09
}} Today, Diverse Harmony is an LGBTQ-Ally youth chorus, and their stated mission is "to create a safe, affirming environment where everyone is accepted for who they are."{{cite web
| last = Hastings
| first =David Owen
| title= About Us: Our vision is a world in which differences are celebrated!
| publisher=Diverse Harmony
| year=2008
| url =http://www.diverseharmony.org/about.htm
| accessdate=2008-07-29| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080224015955/http://www.diverseharmony.org/about.htm| archivedate = February 24, 2008}} In addition to singing members, the chorus has an extensive support network of volunteers, subscribers, and donors; they are also a non-profit organization.{{cite web
|last=Worley
|first=Christopher
|title=About Diverse Harmony
|publisher=MySpace
|year=2006
|url=http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=137386250
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114180429/http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile
|archivedate=2008-11-14
| last = Schmader
| first =David
| title= The End of Thumper's
| publisher=The Stranger
| date=13 October 2006
| url =http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/10/the_end_of_thumpers
| accessdate=2008-07-29}}{{cite web
| last = Hastings
| first =David Owen
| title= Support Diverse Harmony
| publisher=Diverse Harmony
| year=2008
| url =http://www.diverseharmony.org/support.asp
| accessdate=2008-07-29| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080224020012/http://www.diverseharmony.org/support.asp| archivedate = February 24, 2008}} Diverse Harmony is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses), and was the first youth chorus to participate in a GALA Choruses Festival. The chorus appeared in the independent film Why We Sing, which has been screened at LGBT film festivals and on PBS stations across the United States.{{cite web
|title = Home: Why We Sing
|last = Dillon
|first = Lawrence B.
|publisher = Golden Gate Performing Arts
|year = 2007
|url = http://whywesing.org/
|accessdate = 2008-07-29
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201054657/http://whywesing.org/
|archivedate = 2009-02-01
}}
In 2006, they became the first youth choir to perform at the Gay Games.
__TOC__
Background
Image:Diverse Harmony marching-2.jpg's 2007 gay pride parade.]]
Washington state has over 300 gay–straight alliance clubs that are "trying to end bullying and harassment of LGBT students and promoting tolerance and acceptance for everyone in an educational atmosphere."{{cite web
|title=Gay-Straight Alliances bring out the best in area schools: Local organizations providing services to the student-led groups
|last=Frishberg
|first=Manny
|publisher=Seattle Gay News
|date=12 May 2006
|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_19/page4.cfm
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010003022/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_19/page4.cfm
|archivedate=2006-10-10
}} LGBT middle and high school students - roughly covering the teenaged years - have been shown to feel safer just knowing a GSA was at their school; the clubs provide support, socializing opportunities, and chances to discuss political and social issues. The brainchild of original musical director Rhonda Juliano, Diverse Harmony grew out of the opportunities that many clubs offered by showcasing talents and providing a space for youth to perform for one another.
{{blockquote|Some of the kids who were gay needed a safe place to go, and they liked to express themselves through the arts. We decided that a Gay-Straight Alliance youth chorus would be the perfect place.}}
Diverse Harmony is made up of roughly 60 choristers. The group accepts young people ages 13–22, regardless of sexual orientation.{{cite web
|title=2007 Pride Listings
|publisher=Seattle Gay News
|date=29 June 2007
|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews35_26/page29.cfm
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708224437/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews35_26/page29.cfm
|archivedate=2008-07-08
}} A select a cappella ensemble, Spectrum, was formed in 2016. Spectrum consists of members from age 21-29.
History
The group started in 2002, after music teacher Rhonda Juliano decided to form the choir to coincide with her own coming out and blending families with her partner. "During the past 20 years, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students began confiding in Rhonda. She provided the only space where they felt completely safe and free to be themselves - in her classes."{{cite web
| title= Solidarity Through Song: Gay Choir Turns 25
| last = McCandlish
| first =Laura
| publisher=Columbia News Service
| date=15 March 2005
| url =http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2005-03-15/mccandlish-gaychoir
| accessdate=2008-07-29| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080303014202/http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/2005-03-15/mccandlish-gaychoir| archivedate = March 3, 2008}}
On March 1, 2004, KOMO-TV's Brook Stanford became Diverse Harmony's [http://www.companis.org/ Companis] "mission worker," serving as the community outreach director.{{cite web
|title=David & Jonathan: Promised Love
|last=Darling
|first=Craig R. J.
|publisher=Seattle First Baptist
|date=8 February 2004
|url=http://www.seattlefirstbaptist.org/Documents/Sermon/Sermon_040208.pdf
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205171416/http://google.com/search?q=cache:qxrLJGrI7AUJ:www.seattlefirstbaptist.org/Documents/Sermon/Sermon_040208.pdf+%22Diverse+harmony%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=20&gl=us
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=5 December 2012
|access-date=2008-07-29
}} ([http://www.seattlefirstbaptist.org/Documents/Sermon/Sermon_040208.pdf. PDF version]{{dead link|date=September 2009 }}) In 2004, Diverse Harmony opened Seattle's pride week at Saint Mark Episcopal Cathedral with "Let There Be Pride" and shared the bill with the Seattle Women's Chorus.{{cite web
| title= Queer Listings
| publisher=The Stranger
| date=June 2004
| url =http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=18548
| accessdate=2008-07-29}} Diverse Harmony is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses), and was the first youth chorus to participate in a GALA Choruses Festival. The chorus has performed twice at the International music festival put on by the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses; in 2004, at the Place des Arts in Montreal, Quebec, and again in 2008, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.{{cite web|title=Synopsis: Why We Sing |last=Dillon |first=Lawrence B. |publisher=Golden Gate Performing Arts |year=2007 |url=http://whywesing.org/synopsis.aspx |accessdate=2008-07-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725135543/http://www.whywesing.org/synopsis.aspx |archivedate=July 25, 2008 }}{{cite web
| last = Hastings
| first =David Owen
| title= News and Events
| publisher=Diverse Harmony
| year=2008
| url =http://www.diverseharmony.org/news.htm
| accessdate=2008-07-29| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080224015534/http://www.diverseharmony.org/news.htm| archivedate = February 24, 2008}} Through these associations, they became one of four choirs predominantly featured in the independent film Why We Sing!, which has been screened at LGBT film festivals and on 300 PBS stations across the United States.{{cite web
| title=Gay Liberation is Guided by Voices
| publisher=Bay Area Reporter
| date=25 August 2006
| url=http://www.acappellanews.com/archive/001283.html
| accessdate=2008-07-29
| archive-date=2008-10-11
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011021155/http://www.acappellanews.com/archive/001283.html
| url-status=dead
|last=Van Iquity
|first=Sister Dana
|title=Center For Arts Does Grand Re-Opening
|publisher=San Francisco Bay Times
|date=22 March 2007
|url=http://www.sfbaytimes.com/article_p.php?article_id=6236
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928182249/http://www.sfbaytimes.com/article_p.php?article_id=6236
|archivedate=2011-09-28
}}
In 2005, Seattle's pride week theme was "The Courage to Love," and Diverse Harmony again performed, sharing the stage with the Seattle Men's Chorus and the Seattle Women’s Chorus.{{cite web
|last=McKinnon
|first=Rick
|title=LGBT Pride in the Northwest
|publisher=Seattle Gay News
|date=10 June 2005
|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews23/page36.cfm
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009221201/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews23/page36.cfm
|archivedate=2006-10-09
}} In 2006, the theme was "Believe," and the chorus presented at Seattle's First Baptist Church. In 2006, Diverse Harmony also performed at the Interfaith Pride Service, celebrating Washington state's new Anti-Discrimination Law and the victory of Andersen v. King County.{{cite web
|last=McKinnon
|first=Rick
|title=2006 Pacific Northwest LGBT Pride
|publisher=Seattle Gay News
|date=16 June 2006
|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_24/page8.cfm
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009234441/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_24/page8.cfm
|archivedate=2006-10-09
}}
Diverse Harmony also performed at Gay Games VII in Chicago, making them the first youth choir ever to perform at the Gay Games.{{cite web
| last = Abarbanel
| first = Jonathan
| title= Cultural Potpourri for GG VII
| publisher=Windy City Times
| date=12 July 2006
| url =http://www.wctimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=12045
| accessdate=2008-07-29}} On June 2, 2007, their annual concert featured actress Alexandra Billings.{{cite web
|last = McKinnon
|first = Rick
|title = Diverse Harmony in Concert
|publisher = Seattle Gay News
|date = 25 May 2007
|url = http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews35_21/prideCalendar.cfm
|accessdate = 2008-07-29
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080803171046/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews35_21/prideCalendar.cfm
|archivedate = 2008-08-03
}} On October 19, 2006, Diverse Harmony was the beneficiary of "One Night Only," a "gala cabaret evening" and the last performances at Thumpers, a popular performance venue.{{cite web
|last=Nyman
|first=Steve
|author2=Nathan Benedict
|title=Last call at Thumper's - Restaurant and bar became a Seattle LGBT institution
|publisher=Seattle Gay News
|date=13 October 2006
|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_41/page22.cfm
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719232725/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews34_41/page22.cfm
|archivedate=2008-07-19
|last=Morin
|first=Richard
|title=And This Week, Again, Many Performances Are Free
|publisher=Seattle Weekly
|date=18 October 2006
|url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/content/printVersion/284044
|accessdate=2008-07-29
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613224812/http://www.seattleweekly.com/content/printVersion/284044/
|archivedate=2011-06-13
| last = Murakami
| first =Kery
| title= After 21 years, Thumper's announces the final last call
| publisher=Seattle Post_Intelligencier
| date=16 October 2006
| url =http://www.seattlepi.com/local/288805_gaybar16.html
| accessdate=2008-07-29}}
Diverse Harmony's spring concert on May 30, 2008, was "Awake!," utilizing spirituality themes and exploring the human condition; "a musical collage that journey[ed] from a dark past, through a better today, and into a hopeful tomorrow."{{cite web
|title=Diverse Harmony LGBT youth chorus free concert
|last=W.
|first=Bill
|publisher=Seattle Gay Scene
|date=15 May 2008
|url=http://www.seattlegayscene.com/2008/05/diverse-harmony-lgbt-youth-choir-free.html
|accessdate=2008-07-29
}}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} This was also reflected in their artistic poster, created by chorus members, incorporating, among other iconic symbols, a rainbow, likely in reference to the rainbow flag.{{cite web
|title = Northwest News: Diverse Harmony Presents "Awake!"
|publisher = Seattle Gay News
|date = 30 May 2008
|url = http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews36_22/page39.cfm
|accessdate = 2008-07-29
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080604074927/http://sgn.org/sgnnews36_22/page39.cfm
|archivedate = 2008-06-04
}}
The June 2011 show was "Double Shots & Forget-Me-Nots," a performance covering themes of acceptance and self-worth while dealing with the contemporary issues of homophobia, transphobia, bullying, and youth suicide. This original show, written by Diverse Harmony choristers Kat Miller and Adam Quillian, included musical numbers "The Gospel of Google" and "Not a Fairy Tale."
Jared Brayton Bollenbacher was the Artistic Director for Diverse Harmony from 2011 through 2017. In February 2018, Seattle director/conductor/composer/performer Eric Lane Barnes took over as Artistic Director of Diverse Harmony and the select a cappella ensemble Spectrum.
Discography
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.DiverseHarmony.org Diverse Harmony website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090201054657/http://whywesing.org/ Why We Sing!]
{{authority control}}
Category:LGBTQ choruses in the United States
Category:Musical groups established in 2002
Category:LGBTQ youth organizations based in the United States
Category:Choirs in Washington (state)