Seattle Men's Chorus
{{primary sources|date=July 2012}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Seattle Men's Chorus
| background = classical_ensemble
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| alias = SMC
| origin = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
| genre = Broadway, choral, classical, jazz, popular
| instrument = 275 voices
| years_active = 1979-present
| label =
| associated_acts = Captain Smartypants
Seattle Women's Chorus
Sensible Shoes
| website = [http://www.seattlechoruses.org Official website]
| current_members = Artistic Director
Paul Caldwell
Executive Director
Craig Coogan
}}
Seattle Men's Chorus (SMC) is an LGBTQ community chorus based in Seattle, Washington. The group was founded in 1979,{{Cite web|url=http://encoreartsseattle.com/group/seattle-mens-chorus-and-seattle-womens-chorus|title=Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus {{!}} Encore Arts Seattle|website=encoreartsseattle.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-16}}{{cite web|url=http://www.seattlechoruses.org/index.php?cID=207|title=Learn|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=}} and today is, along with Seattle Women's Chorus, the largest community choral organization in North America.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/for-retiring-artistic-director-the-seattle-mens-chorus-heralded-much-more-than-music/|title=For retiring artistic director, the Seattle Men's Chorus heralded much more than music|date=2016-06-09|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2017-08-16|language=en-US}}{{Citation |last=Moy |first=Wendy K. |title=Come together |date=2021-11-04 |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198860761.003.0010 |work=Together in Music |pages=77–82 |access-date=2023-10-09 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/oso/9780198860761.003.0010|isbn=978-0-19-886076-1 }} SMC is a member of GALA Choruses{{Cite news|url=http://galachoruses.org/directory/seattle-mens-chorus|title=Seattle Men's Chorus|date=2012-02-26|work=Gala Choruses|access-date=2017-08-16}} and Chorus America.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chorusamerica.org/|title=Chorus America|website=www.chorusamerica.org|access-date=2016-04-09}}
SMC has been led by conductor and artistic director, Paul Caldwell, since 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/classical-music/choruses-warm-embrace-helps-new-director-heal-body-and-soul-after-a-hit-and-run/|title=Choruses' warm embrace helps new director heal, body and soul, after a hit-and-run|date=2016-12-09|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2017-08-16|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Local-choral-figure-on-career-Seattle-job-and-brutal-accident/55520.html|title=Local choral figure on career, Seattle job and brutal accident - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News Archive - Windy City Times|website=Windy City Times|date=14 June 2016|access-date=2017-08-16}}
History
The first rehearsal was held in September 1979.{{Cite web |title=History – Seattle Choruses |url=https://www.seattlechoruses.org/history/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |language=en-US}} In the spring of 1980, the first official SMC concert was held at the Museum of History and Industry.
Dennis Coleman became SMC’s conductor in May 1981.{{Cite web |last=Ronco |first=Ed |date=2016-06-24 |title=35 Years Of Music, LGBT History For Retiring Seattle Chorus Director |url=https://www.knkx.org/arts/2016-06-24/35-years-of-music-lgbt-history-for-retiring-seattle-chorus-director |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=KNKX Public Radio |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Sommerfeld |first=Seth |date=2015-03-16 |title=Seattle Men's Chorus's Dennis Coleman: A Fiendish Conversation {{!}} Seattle Concerts |url=https://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-culture/2015/03/a-fiendish-conversation-with-seattle-mens-chorus-dennis-coleman-march-2015 |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Seattle Met |language=en-US}}
Performances
SMC performs several regularly scheduled concerts each year, regularly hosting celebrity guests such as Kristin Chenoweth, Tituss Burgess, Leslie Jordan, Kelli O'Hara, Betty Buckley and Debbie Reynolds, to name but a few.
{{cite web
|url=http://www.flyinghouse.org/press/meetguestarchives.asp
|title=Guest Archives
|publisher=Flying House Productions
|accessdate=23 July 2012
}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/kimmy-schmidt-star-tituss-burgess-to-drop-in-with-seattle-mens-chorus/|title='Kimmy Schmidt' star Tituss Burgess to drop in with Seattle Men's Chorus|date=2015-11-24|website=The Seattle Times|access-date=2016-04-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/kristin-chenoweth-gcb-is-not-trying-to-be-shakespeare/|title=Kristin Chenoweth: 'GCB' is 'not trying to be Shakespeare'|date=2012-05-06|website=The Seattle Times|access-date=2016-04-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews37_07/page21.cfm|title=SGN Page 21 - Debbie Reynolds sings with Seattle Men's Chorus - Friday, February 13, 2009 - Volume 37 Issue 07|website=www.sgn.org|access-date=2016-04-09}}
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 about San Francisco politician and activist Harvey Milk, and the Tyler Suite about Rutgers student Tyler Clementi.
In June 2023, Disney partnered with SMC for Disney PRIDE in Concert at the historic Paramount Theatre.{{Cite web |last=Kazori |first=Niku |date=2023-06-22 |title=Seattle Men's Chorus partners with Disney for Pride concert at the Paramount |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/seattle-mens-chorus-partners-with-disney-pride-concert-paramount/I7AINLZYQFCYXGZDB3KUDHNIBU/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=KIRO 7 News Seattle |language=en}}
Discography
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2016}}
- 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
See also
{{Portal|LGBTQ}}
- GALA Choruses (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses)
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.seattlechoruses.org Official Website Seattle Men's Chorus]
- [http://digital.lib.washington.edu/findingaids/view?docId=BlairStephenR5172.xml Stephen R. Blair Papers.] 1919-1996. 1 cubic foot (2 boxes).
{{LGBTQ culture in Seattle}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1979 establishments in Washington (state)
Category:Choirs in Washington (state)
Category:Gay culture in Washington (state)