Why I Sing: Giving Back to My Community
Anyone who knows me is already aware for my love for singing. But that's not my full story. Growing up, my parents had instilled a love for music in me. I remember fondly being gifted my iPod Shuffle and sitting around the computer recommending songs to each other to buy with our iTunes gift cards. In elementary school, I started my singing journey in my school's church choir to keep myself involved after school. Back then, I didn't think much of it. It was just something to do. A few years later, my music teacher at the time recognized my talent and guided me to achieve musical excellence. And that's exactly what I did.
I performed with the NJACDA Elementary and Junior High All State Chorus, ACDA Eastern Honor Choir, ACDA National Honor Choir and NJMEA HS Chorus among multiple extra curricular choirs, musical theater shows, and private voice lessons throughout. Singing means everything to me. I went on to pursue my degree in Music Production and Recording Arts at Elon University where I continued to foster my knowledge and skills among amazing faculty, peers, and friends. A year after graduating, with a third internship completed at Manhattan Beach Recording, I needed to sing again. I had seen the NYCGMC in the news during NYC Pride and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to sing and connect with the LGBTQIA+ community for my first time.
As I mentioned before, this is only part of my story. I did not know I was gay until I was about 12 years old. Due to my environment at the time, I hadn't realized it was even possible to have feelings for other guys. I had never met anyone like myself to be able to talk to. I was bullied in school for "signs" I had clearly missed. I made new friends who helped me learn about myself and the greater LGBTQIA+ community, but I still struggled with internalized homophobia for a long time. Performing was my escape. It was an opportunity to be more than who I was in my everyday life. I gradually let people in and felt so much lighter and happier.
The NYCGMC is my opportunity to inspire other queer people to live authentically as themselves. I've only been in a few rehearsals so far, but the feeling of being in a room with hundreds of other queer people like myself to come together and sing has been so special. I am beyond excited to perform this concert season and beyond! As a nonprofit the NYCGMC relies on the generous donations from our members and respective communities to keep our operations up and running. My goal is to raise $500 to be able to give back to the community who has graciously accepted me into their family. Below is a history of the Membership Fundraiser Drive to give you some perspective of what we do as an organization. I hope you will join me in donating to this amazing cause! Thank you so much for your support! Much love!!!
NYCGMC 2020 Membership Fundraising Drive
Welcome to the NYCGMC 2020 Membership Fundraising Drive!
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus is an internationally renowned performing arts institution in New York City and a pioneering voice for the LGBTQ+ community. Through the power of song, NYCGMC challenges people’s perceptions of the LGBTQ+ community, combats fear and hatred, encourages compassion and human connection, and thrills audiences with inspiring performances. NYCGMC champions social justice and embraces the values of diversity, inclusion, equity, and intersectionality.
Founded in 1979, NYCGMC provided a community when LGBTQ+ people faced daunting challenges and devastating loss. The Chorus now confronts the unprecedented challenges of 2020 in its inimitable fashion by reflecting on our extraordinary past and forging an innovative and exciting path towards the future, inviting New York City and the entire world to join in the celebration.
Comprising nearly 400 talented singers of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences, across a spectrum of gender identity and sexual orientation, NYCGMC is especially excited to welcome our new Associates singers this season from across the US and Canada. The new Associates program is designed as a service to the choral field and the LGBTQ movement, expanding the reach and breadth of music and mission, and helping all of us reach for the most radical egalitarianism in the most pragmatic way at this difficult time. NYCGMC is actively engaged in how we can be stronger together, rather than struggling individually in isolation.
NYCGMC’s first entirely virtual season will present two concerts, in December 2020 and May 2021. For more information, please visit www.nycgmc.org.
As a non-profit organization, NYCGMC relies on the generosity of donors to support this important work and to keep our song alive. With the impact of COVID-19 creating particularly challenging circumstances for choral and performing groups, NYCGMC is unable to perform live this year, yet continues to thrive by expanding the reach to a national audience and producing stirring virtual performances with crucial messages of social justice and equality. Your support allows NYCGMC to amplify our mission and our voices at this important moment. Thank you for your generosity!
When performing in person, NYCGMC presents three mainstage shows and over forty outreach activities across all five boroughs and beyond annually. Previous years’ outreach performances have included appearances at LGBTQ teen homeless shelters, at SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBTQ Elders), and at corporate and public pride celebrations. NYCGMC has performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Yankee Stadium; at gala fundraisers for the Swish Ally Fund and the Ackerman Institute; and at the Brooklyn Museum and the Global Citizen concert in Central Park, among many others. Television appearances including Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and Last Week Tonight have provided a national platform for the mission. Through technical assistance and joint concerts, NYCGMC supports development of LGBTQ choruses in the U.S. and internationally. NYCGMC’s school outreach program serves over 2,000 NYC public middle and high school students.
