Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus

Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Performing Arts

How do we recognize forty years of “singing for our lives”? Singing is about telling our story, and after forty years, we have a lot of stories to tell. The chorus was born in the cradle of the AIDS epidemic, and is bookended by another sort of epidemic. There is a lot of sorrow and anger to tell, but also a lot of love, hope and perseverance. We hope that you will join us in recognizing why TCGMC still matters.

  1. 10/08/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 17: Patrick Kispert and Patrick Puckett

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Join our hosts for a conversation with Patrick and Patrick, a married couple lovingly known in the chorus as “The Patricks.” First hearing a TCGMC performance following the passing of Minnesota’s marriage legislation in 2013, “The Patricks” share their experience as relatively new members of the organization, and why a chorus like TCGMC is still relevant for them. “The things that we choose to sing about and spread a message about as a gay men’s chorus are important, and we’re not just doing it for the sake of dragging people through history, but it’s because we’re still struggling with this stuff.” –Patrick Puckett Hear TCGMC’s performance of a modern reframing of “The House of the Rising Sun,” arranged by Joshua Shank, paying tribute to the victims of a 1973 fire in New Orleans at a gay bar called the Upstairs Lounge in which 32 people died.

  2. 08/13/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 16: John Azbill-Salisbury and David Fey

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. This episode, hosted by Steffi and Glenn, features two leaders in the organization who have both done so much to support TCGMC’s transformative work, John Azbill-Salisbury and David Fey. Singers join TCGMC for a wide variety of reasons. Hear the specific moment our guests realized that reason from a personal standpoint. And hear “I Want More Life” by Michael Shaieb, lyrics taken from Angels in America: Part II: Perestroika, Scene 5 by Tony Kushner.  Recorded in live performance March 2010 under the baton of Dr. Stan Hill.

  3. 07/14/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 15: Erin Bernier and Carlos Saldaña

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Join our host, Steffie, for a conversation with two of TCGMC’s singer-leaders. Erin Bernier has twice joined the Chorus during different phases of his life journey and is just wrapping up a term as a member of the Board of Directors. Carlos Saldaña has been the Tenor 1 section admin and is now stepping into the role of Membership President for season 41! Hear the unique roles TCGMC has played in their respective lives, and some of the projects that have had an impact on them over the years. This episode features a snippet from “Two Boys Kissing” by Joshua Shank, commissioned by TCGMC and premiered in 2016 .

  4. 07/06/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 14: Russell Toscano and Glen Arvin

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. "It's not just pretty music, there's a whole experience [audiences] take home with them. And that's what keeps them coming back!" -Russell Toscano, TCGMC Baritone.  Join our host, Steffie, for a conversation with longtime TCGMC singer and former New Yorker, Russell Toscano, and the man with a made-for-radio voice who hosted 2019's Stiletto Squares: The Divas Edition, Glen Arvin. In this episode you'll hear Russell's solo in "Miss Marmelstein" from TCGMC's 1995 performance at Ted Mann Concert Hall.

  5. 05/26/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 13: Matt Hudson and Tyler Lanam

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Join this episode's host, Steffie, for a heartfelt conversation with Matt Hudson, aka Anastacia C. Principle and Tyler Lanam, aka Michelle Cassandra Rawr, who discuss their time in the chorus and how it has intersected with their drag artistry. Hear TCGMC perform “And I Believe” composed by Dr. Gerald Gurss performed at the 2018 Holiday concert, and the impression that specific song had for Matt. Learn how adventures in drag, and singing in a gay chorus, have impacted Tyler’s life and relationships, coming from a conservative background in South Dakota.

  6. 05/17/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 12: Kenny Beck and Patrick Coghlan

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Who do we sing for and why? Our hosts pose this important question to Kenny and Patrick, two members of the Tenor 2 section, who connect their personal “why” to their formative years and where they come from. Patrick talks about TCGMC as a social statement and Kenny shares his deeply personal connection to the community that is built through TCGMC. Hear Movement IV from “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” composed by Joel Thompson and performed by TCGMC in March 2018 in Minneapolis.

  7. 05/03/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 11: Kent Pitman and Shannon O’Brien

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Join this episode’s hosts, Glenn Bates and Steffie Fiore, who get to know community board member, Shannon O’Brien and singer Kent Pitman. Shannon and Kent share some fun facts about themselves, how they came to the Chorus, and the value they see in the way TCGMC integrates itself into the greater community. Not forgetting the internal community that exists for its members! Also hear a recording of “Chris and Gabe” composed by Dr. Gerald Gurss with text from a StoryCorps segment featuring Chris López and her son who is transgender, Gabe. Recorded remotely, and performed virtually by OutLoud!, TCGMC Chamber Singers & One Voice Chorus of Charlotte (NC), this piece was featured in the TCGMC Spring Concert, Carry On (available on the TCGMC YouTube Channel).

  8. 04/23/2021

    Voices/TCGMC Episode 10: Glenn Olson

    After forty years, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus is spilling the tea - so pour yourself a cup and settle in for our podcast, Voices of the Twin Cities Gay Mens Chorus. Join our 40th Anniversary Chair, Kelsey Bruso, for a conversation with singer Glenn Olson. Glenn was a featured and celebrated soloist for the TCGMC commissioned work, Metamorphosis, which was performed at the 2004 GALA Festival in Montreal, Canada. These two longtime members discuss the impact of this commission on a personal and community level and share some excerpts, including Glenn's solo in movement 8, "Grace."

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

How do we recognize forty years of “singing for our lives”? Singing is about telling our story, and after forty years, we have a lot of stories to tell. The chorus was born in the cradle of the AIDS epidemic, and is bookended by another sort of epidemic. There is a lot of sorrow and anger to tell, but also a lot of love, hope and perseverance. We hope that you will join us in recognizing why TCGMC still matters.

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