Boston Gay Men's Chorus records

The Boston Gay Men's Chorus (BGMC) formed in 1982 with Josef Bevins as its first conductor, part of a wave of gay choruses established in the wake of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus's 1981 tour. BGMC's first concert was held in June 1982 at Arlington Street Church, Boston, Massachusetts. From its first season, the Chorus has offered a regular schedule of performances including a holiday concert in December, a spring concert in March or April, and a June concert as part of Pride festivities. BGMC has grown to 175 singing members and is considered one of the largest community-based choruses in New England.

BGMC's repertoire includes both classical and popular music, and the Chorus has commissioned and debuted new works such as "Hidden Legacies" and "Eos," and brought works commissioned by other gay choruses to audiences in New England. The Chorus began offering American Sign Language interpretation of concerts in 1989. Although BGMC recorded many of its concerts as early as 1982, the Chorus only released its first CD, "Visions: Words for the Future," in 1994.

In October 1983, BGMC partnered with the AIDS Action Committee for its first benefit concert; additional benefit concerts for HIV/AIDS and other causes, such as gay-straight alliances in local schools, followed. In 2004, BGMC visited the Massachusetts State House, meeting with representatives and distributing copies of their CD single "Marry Us" in support of marriage equality.

BGMC received nonprofit status in 1984 and was awarded their first City of Boston grant that year.

BGMC first performed outside Massachusetts in 1985 and subsequently performs throughout New England. Annual shows in Provincetown, Massachusetts began in 1984 with an appearance at Carnival Week in August; BGMC also performs a holiday program in Provincetown. The 15th anniversary concert in 1997 brought together six New England GLBT choruses, and BGMC has performed with local youth choruses for outreach and benefit concerts, as well as the 1996 holiday concert "Keepers of the Light." The Chorus also partnered with other gay and lesbian choruses for exchange concerts, which brought BGMC to other cities and other choruses to Boston. BGMC is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses and a regular participant in that organization's triennial GALA Festival.

In 2005, 120 members of BGMC embarked on the group's first international tour, visiting Central Europe. The Chorus celebrated Pride in Berlin, Germany, marching in the Christopher Street Day parade; held a joint concert with German gay chorus RosaCavaliere; and performed outdoors for a crowd of thousands at the Siegessäule monument. In Wroclaw, Poland, BGMC performed as scheduled despite protests and threats from an extreme right-wing group, garnering international attention. BGMC donated the proceeds from its Poland concert to a program for HIV-positive children, funding a year of operations. The Prague, Czech Republic performance was featured in a documentary profile aired on Czech television, raising money and awareness for domestic partnership legalization.

In 2015, BGMC toured the Middle East, with concerts in Istanbul, Turkey, and Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Ein Gedi, Israel.

1982 June

First concert at Arlington Street Church, Boston, Massachusetts.

1983 October

First AIDS benefit concert for the AIDS Action Committee.

1984

BGMC receives nonprofit status and is awarded its first city grant.

1985

First concerts outside Massachusetts are held in Portland and Augusta, Maine.

1986

The Chorus appears at the second triennial Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses GALA Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1987

Boston Mayor Ray Flynn proclaims "Boston Gay Men's Chorus Day" for the organization's fifth anniversary.

1988

Exchange concerts with the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, with performances at the Orpheum in Boston and Avery Fisher Hall in New York.

1989

Faneuil Hall performance celebrates the signing of Massachusetts' Gay and Lesbian Rights Bill.

1989

LeWana Clark begins American Sign Language interpretation of BGMC concerts.

1990

The Chorus performs in "Heartstrings," an AIDS benefit, alongside Christopher Reeve and Marlo Thomas.

1991

Exchange concerts with Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. and Denver Gay Men's Chorus.

1993

BGMC performs in San Francisco with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.

1994

First CD, "Visions: Words for the Future," released.

1995

The Chorus performs National Anthem at the opening of the Fleet Center.

1996

Holiday concert also includes the Treble Chorus of New England children's chorus.

1997

BGMC 15th Anniversary concert brings six New England LGBTQ choruses together at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall.

1998

Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III's debut concert with BGMC, NakedMan.

1999

The Chorus performs with the Boston Pops at the nationally broadcasted July 4th Esplanade concert.

2000

World premiere of "Eos," a work commissioned by BGMC.

2002

"Gloria!" holiday music CD wins Outmusic award.

2003

"The Visionaries" documentary series episode about BGMC airs on PBS stations nationwide.

2004

BGMC sings with Belmont High School Honors Choir to benefit the school's Gay Straight Alliance.

2005

Over 100 Chorus members embark on a European tour, celebrating Pride in Germany, performing in Poland despite protests and threats by an extreme right-wing group, and raising money and awareness for domestic partnership legalization in the Czech Republic.

2006

"Metamorphosis" benefit concert for PFLAG (formerly known as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

2007

BGMC celebrates 25th anniversary.

2012

Craig Coogan, former Executive Director of One Voice Mixed Chorus (St. Paul, Minnesota) and Treasurer and founding board member of Vox Femina (Los Angeles, California), becomes BGMC's Executive Director.

2015

Middle East tour brings BGMC to Istanbul, Turkey and Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Ein Gedi, Israel.

2017

The Chorus celebrates 35th anniversary.

2018

BGMC tours South Africa in support of LGBTQ refugees.