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T
he lobby o the Ritz-Carlton is buzzing with activity. Businessmen
and women convene for happy hour cocktails. Groups o women
wearing identical bandanas (tourists, most likely) exchange
itineraries. And several conventioneers network on this busy Wednesday.
It is 6:29 p.m. and the unsuspecting guests in the opulent room are being
served hors d'oeuvres by men in sailor hats and tribal headdresses. Then,
there is a low hum, the sound o a familiar disco tune wating through the
decadent halls.
The servers line up - around 30 men in white shirts and blue jeans, and
begin singing a Village People medley accompanied by choreographed
dance moves complete with jazz hands and macho-man poses.
This ash mob is one o the more kitschy performances the Philadelphia
Gay Men's Chorus (PGMC) has done over the past 30 years, and only a
sliver o what they have accomplished over the years.
F
ounded by Gerald David in 1981, the original four members began
by caroling in bars. Quickly their respectability grew. Their rst
formal concert occurred on April 25, 1982. Not only have their
numbers steadily grown they now have 130 members - they have since
added a non-prot sector to their organization and they boast a popular,
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JUMPphilly.com
MACHO MLN lCMC members performlng durlng a ash mob at the
kltz-Carleton [opposlte page}, and at rehearsal afterward.
annual holiday concert. But they are more than just a talented group.
They are a support system for the gay community.
It was an important part o accepting my sexual identity, reects
President Greg Weight on joining as a chorus member in 1997. It was so
important to see the diversity o men who accepted themselves.
I
n the Lutheran Church located at 20th and Sansom streets, it is
evident that Weight's statement rings true today. The mood is
entirely diferent from their ash mob performance barely one hour
ago. A more focused sea o men sit according to their positions in the
ensemble - from the basses to the altos. They range from their early 20s
to their late 60s. Whites, Asians, African Americans, Middle Eastern men
and more, hailing from diferent creeds and a plethora o various musical
backgrounds, begin singing beloved Christmas carols.
Joe Burches, the artistic director and conductor, leads rehearsal.
Its 'candle' not 'can-dellllll,' he remarks, playfully mocking the group's
heavy Philadelphian accent.
To the melodic lilt o the piano, his hands prod and pluck the air as i
pulling the appropriate notes from the group's diaphragms. A chill-
inducing sound rises from the choir, a calming harmony in the cloak o a
familiar carol lls the air.
Burches, who is the only paid employee in the chorus, has watched
his men evolve and grow under his direction. Hes also witnessed an
evolution in community activism.
We make appearances at everything we can,
Burches comments. It is important for people to
know we are out there.
The PGMC creates a community united around
music. Their vision has outreach beyond the gay
community. They've visited local high schools
and traveled across the country to spread their
message o acceptance and hope, trying to dispel
negative attitudes that surround homosexuality.
It is an extremely powerful thing for high school
students to see a large, diverse group o proud
homosexual men together, arms Weight.
T
he PGMC isn't just trying to make strides
outside o the gay community, it is
working to bring unity back into it.
You don't have to be gay or even a man to join
the chorus, claries Weight. That is not what
this is about.
Most members claim that they originally joined
the chorus to meet others in the gay community.
Though there are a myriad o pride events, gay
bars and awareness groups, it can be hard to meet
people when you aren't entirely ready to be immersed in that aspect o the
community. PGMC oten serves a platform for gay men to get involved
but still live their lives in a safe environment.
The attitude in the chorus has changed dramatically to a family
mentality, Burches remarks. We have a strong network here.
There is such a comfort level that some o the singers have used the
chorus as a way to come out, Weight says, inviting their loved ones to see
them in a show. The chorus has the ability to bridge many communities
and subsets, Burches and Weight believe.
We have so many diferent groups in Philly, Weight says. We have the
dancers, the artists, the musicians - all key players in the gay community.
But people tend to stay in their own cliques. We really want to bridge that
gap between those sectors because we are all hoping for the same things.
At the end o the day, it always comes back to the music. There are three
auditions held every year, though many members do not have formal
musical training. Each potential member is expected to have raw talent.
Burches ensures he can help with the rest.
Not everyone knows how to read music and that is ok, he explains. I
am here to guide. Overall we just want a perfected, untouchable sound.
While they do infuse contemporary tunes with timeless classics, their
overall style is that o a polished, sophisticated sound. For their ocial
30th anniversary celebration next June, they are performing the world
premiere o a composition by Collaborative Accompanist Michael
Djupstrom and a libretto by PGMC member Chip Alfred.
To be together for 30 years, functioning as a unit, is a remarkable feat
itself, Weight proudly states. I am condent this is just a marker o
greater things to come.