Fargo Moorhead Gay Men’s Chorus: holiday concert and then…New York City!

The Fargo-Moorhead Gay Men’s Chorus (FMGMC), founded in 2013, will soon be bringing their musical talent to Lincoln Center in New York City. For the relatively new chorus, this is just as big a deal as it sounds.

The FMGMC’s next event is its annual Holiday Concert, “I Heard the Bells,” Sunday, December 11th at 2 pm at the Sanctuary Events Center. According to the FMGMC Steering Committee President, Adam Johnston, the annual holiday concert is “the highlight of each FMGMC season” and that this year the chorus is “shining the lights even brighter this year as we partner with HPR and Sanctuary Events Center.”

The FMGMC has a current roster of 18 men. They also have a primary piano accompanist, Jared Hoeft; a secondary piano accompanist and flautist, Amanda Hoeft; an Artistic Director, Angel Lira; an Event Manager, Iris Huss; and a Production Manager, Laurie Seifert.

Then, on June 4, 2017, the FMGMC will participate in a performance of “Tyler’s Suite” under the director of Tim Seelig, artistic director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, at Lincoln Center, NYC.

This event brings together gay men’s choruses from around the world. Adam Johnston, New Trier, Minn. native, a graduate of Concordia College, and current Registered Nurse with Sanford Health, says this performance will be “an opportunity to gain wisdom, experience, and energy from other singers nation-wide, and the chorus is guaranteed to bring that energy back to the FM community upon our return.” Continuing, Adam describes this as “an amazing opportunity for FMGMC to represent the LGBTQA+ community in the FM area and the state of North Dakota on a world-renowned stage in New York City.” Fourteen singers and six others will be participating in a five-day residency, culminating in a concert.

“Tyler’s Suite” is a piece of music composed by several famous and talented composers that, according to Adam, focuses on a “message of hope and support for those who are bullied and those considering suicide, while raising awareness of mental health issues – a topic that continues to disproportionately affect the LGBTQA+ community.”

This piece was commissioned by the Tyler Clementi Foundation, an anti-bullying organization with focus on LGBTQA+ issues. The foundation was created by family members of Tyler Clementi, a gay Rutgers College student who was videotaped by his roommate and it was leaked on the Internet. The bullying that resulted from this led him to commit suicide by jumping off of the George Washington Bridge in New York.

In addition to Adam Johnston, HPR had the chance to talk to founding chorus member, Bob Stone, as well as the conductor for the New York event, Tim Seelig, and promoter for the New York City event, Kevin Taylor.

First, HPR spoke with Bob Stone, a founding member of the FMGMC. Bob was born in Hawley and grew up in Fargo. He was a high school teacher with the Division of Independent Study on the NDSU campus for 39 years. Bob came out as a gay man at the age of 66 and married his husband, Jan Titus on August 1, 2014 at midnight with 17 other couples when same-sex marriage became legal in Minnesota.

High Plains Reader: How did the chorus begin?

Bob Stone: In the fall of 2012, it was discussed at the coffee group of six men. We asked, “Why isn't there a Gay Chorus like Minneapolis in Fargo?” It was revisited in the spring of 2013. I was urged to start the group. I met with Mara Morken Fogerty of the Pride Collective. She loved the idea and got the Chorus as a subcommittee of the Pride Collective. In August 2013, I signed up interested men at PRIDE in the Park. I found a pianist and a director. We began rehearsals with about 16 men in September 2013 at First Congregational Church of Fargo.

HPR: How has the chorus changed?

BS: It now has by-laws, a steering committee, and a membership book. The chorus has grown from singing easier pieces to more difficult ones. The membership ranges from 15 to 72 years of age.

HPR: Talk about what you enjoy about the FMGMC.

BS: I enjoy the opportunity to visit with other gay men and the camaraderie that has developed. I last sang in my church choir in high school; therefore, I was not a singer. I had to join the chorus, since I founded it. The director has given me lessons and I have grown as a singer.

Now let’s focus on the exciting Lincoln Center performance in June, 2017. HPR spoke with Kevin Taylor, Director of Program Development with Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY). Kevin is a Concordia College, Moorhead Communications and Music graduate.

HPR: What do you do with DCINY?

Kevin Taylor: We are based in Manhattan where we annually do 15 to 16 main-stage performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. In addition to the standard choral orchestral repertoire, we also commission new music. We also have Fargo-Moorhead connections, as we commissioned music from Dr. Rene Clausen at Concordia and we have also worked with the Master Chorale of FM. We have had singers from Oak Grove come up to perform with Dr. Clausen.

HPR: Talk about “Tyler’s Suite.”

KT: “Tyler’s Suite” is dedicated to Tyler’s story – fighting against bullying and bigotry, bringing together gifted composers. It is a great piece that has been performed several times around the country. We are bringing in gay men’s choruses from around the world

HPR: What about the FMGMC’s involvement?

KT: For “Tyler’s Suite,” gay men’s chorus members auditioned by sending in clips. But the Fargo-Moorhead group was also recommended by Tim Seelig and other members of the chorus community. And we are absolutely thrilled to have the FMGMC involved.

Although I cannot guarantee this, our intention is to live stream the entire concert so people can link and watch. This is going to be incredible and we want people to experience it.

The composers involved are John Bucchino, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carnelia, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Horne, and Stephen Schwartz. Together with librettists Pamela Steward and Mark Adamo, this music will express the experiences of Tyler and his family.

Finally, HPR touched base with Dr. Tim Seelig, who will be conducting “Tyler’s Suite,” where the FMGMC will be honored participants in bringing this piece to life.

HPR: What does being an Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus entail?

Tim Seelig: My role simply means that I am responsible for all things artistic - including the overall vision for the group, selecting repertoire, planning concerts -- and conducting them. I have been with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for six years. Prior to that, I conducted the gay men's chorus in Dallas, for 20 years.”

HPR: What are you looking forward to in conducting this distinguished chorus?

TS: One of the things that makes this experience unique is that we get to bring singers from all over the U.S. to perform a work of such significance in our lives -- especially these days. There will be a bonding, both musically and emotionally, that is rare.”

HPR: Tell us about “Tyler’s Suite” and the FMGMC’s role.

TS: About a year after Tyler's tragic death, one of our board members from San Francisco joined the newly formed Tyler Clementi Foundation. He felt that since Tyler was a budding musician/violinist that his story could be beautifully told through music. We began the process of creating just such a work. Our first call was to the amazing composer Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked, etc.). He is passionate about music and message, and immediately signed on to help us coordinate the creation. It was Stephen who was able to bring together the nine composers who created the suite, all of whom are incredible artists in their own right. We contracted a lyricist to create the poetry and then the composers each composed one movement. It is a stunning work that sweeps the audience through all of the beautiful and painful life experiences and relationships that Tyler experienced.”

We are thrilled to have the FMGMC join us in presenting this work. As everyone knows, we are entering a time when communities deemed as ‘other’ are marginalized and worse. It is important that we join together and resist. One of the things that has come to prominence and even acceptance is bullying. Tyler Clementi’s suicide is an example of what can happen if we allow bullying and cyber-bullying to become the norm in our society. Performing this work will be a constant reminder that we as a society need to continue to be vigilant.”

IF YOU GO

“I Heard the Bells,” Fargo Moorhead Gay Men’s Choir Concert 

Sunday, December 11, 2pm 

Sanctuary Events Center, 670 4th Ave N, Fargo