American musician and songwriter Norah Jones said, “For me, making music is part social, part interaction, part collaboration.”  On November 22 and 23, 2014 Perfect Harmony Men’s Chorus (PHMC) – Madison, WI, City of Festivals Men’s Chorus (COFMC) – Milwaukee, WI, and One Voice Mixed Chorus (One Voice) – St. Paul, MN came together to make music!  We gave A Mighty Voice concert, once in Madison and another north two hours in Stevens Point, with the free will donations going to GSAFE.

The concerts started with the combined choruses chanting a simple Arab Sufi melody which the artistic director of One Voice, Jane Ramseyer Miller, taught to the Wisconsin choruses that day. With singers encircling the audience, the prayer started low with the basses and baritones, then enhancing the sound with the tenors’ entrance.  Then the altos and sopranos joined until the hall filled with beautiful harmony.  Hearing the harmony resonate through the First Congregational UCC chapel created an energy that lasted the entire performance. 

After the choruses performed their individual sets, all singers gathered on stage to finish the concert and invited the audience to sing-a-long with a song of unity, A Mighty Voice. Nearly 300 voices gathered sang:

We have started a song and it cannot stop! We birthed a mountain; it cannot be moved!  Our song, sing yours!

Following the concert, of course, all the singers returned to our homes and hotel rooms and got plenty of sleep so we could wake refreshed the next day to sing the concert anew in Stevens Point.  Well, that’s a pious choirmaster’s dream, and NOT what happened in this case.  Instead, the three choruses gathered at local Madison bars to share stories, laughs and a few cocktails to become friends.  In fact, our pious artistic directors, Jane Ramseyer Miller and Ken Forney joined us in the festivities! 

The bonds of friendship actually began before the concert ever started. Besides the how-do-you-dos and quips from the extroverts in each chorus during rehearsal, the three choruses gathered over dinner in the church fellowship hall.  We dined simply from large pots soups and stews, a multitude of salads, and a variety of desserts prepared by Perfect Harmony singers.

When you sing in the same group week after week, your drive and energy within that chorus can become stale, even though your love of music and singing remains high.  Interacting with a new chorus sparked new energies for everyone and created an exciting exchange of ideas. Hearing new songs or a unique performance of a song can give you new perspective.  Fellow chorus members expressed the hope that we would again interact with Jane and One Voice on future projects.

Our collaborations show communities that we have music in us; that we have a message to share; that we share the music and message freely; and that we are stronger together.  Ken mentioned during our warm-ups in Stevens Point, “if we touch one life, we lived our mission.” Sure enough, after our concerts in Steven’s Point, two men were especially appreciative that we brought the music to them since they always travel to Madison or Milwaukee to be part of an LGBT community. If you sing where the LGBTQ population is small, your performance could show that community the possibilities and that their LGBTQ brothers and sisters are here for them.

One Voice received this email after the concert.

Thanks again for coming to Stevens Point. I enjoyed the concert very much which I knew at the time. But I want to say how much it has meant to me every day since then that the tall trans woman with the deep voice was here. My world has been easier to breathe in ever since. 

I encourage other GALA choruses to collaborate with other choruses in their area. With the number of GALA chorus throughout the U.S. and Canada (or the world), finding a GALA chorus near you isn’t difficult.  You might also find another local LGBTQ chorus, not associated with GALA (yes, they do exist) with whom you can collaborate.  You don’t have to make the exchanges an elaborate fair, just choruses gathering to do what they do best, make music.

To begin a collaboration or exchange, all you need to do is ask or start a conversation.  I found out that GALA has someone who will assist you, should you need it.  This year we found our song.  Now it’s time to sing yours!

PS. Following Sunday’s concert in Stevens Point, just as One Voice was departing for the return trip to St. Paul, Minnesota I hopped on the bus to share the joyous news that the Packers beat the Vikings!  I quickly exited the bus too.

by James Doran, Perfect Harmony singer

For more information please visit the following:
Perfect Harmony Men’s Chorus
City of Festivals Men’s Chorus
One Voice Mixed Chorus: Minnesota’s LGBTA Chorus