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Register for GALA Choruses
Leadership Symposium 2026
February 12–15, 2026 | Columbus, OH
GALA’s Leadership Symposium offers an opportunity for leaders of GALA member choruses to meet one another, attend workshops, network, learn about ways to engage with schools in your community, and to pick up resources for building successful choruses. We’ll share our success stories, learn from our collective mistakes, and have a great time in a beautiful location! It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet peers, and we’ll have special intensive workshops for new GALA chorus ADs, new chorus board members, and chorus managers.
In addition to a full slate of workshops and seminars, there will be plenty of open-agenda time to discuss the particular issues with which your chorus might be struggling. We’ll have round-table discussions, one-on-one consultations with GALA 411 Advisors, and social gatherings.
All sales are final. Please contact us to transfer registrations if you are unable to attend, subject to demand.
Read our “Know Before You Go” action items here!
The Leadership Symposium will take place at the Riffe Center (77 S High St); GALA Choruses’ room block at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel (50 N 3rd St) is filled, but we recommend either booking at the Renaissance (outside of the block) or The Plaza Hotel (75 E State St). Both hotels are just a couple blocks from the Riffe Center.
The concerts will take place at the Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center (77 S High St). Tickets for the public / anyone not registered for Symposium for Friday’s performance are available here, for $20pp plus fees; tickets for Saturday’s concert are available here, for $30pp plus fees, or $60pp plus fees for VIP access.
Questions? Email info [at] galachoruses.org.
Schedule
The Symposium schedule is now live on Integra! This is now the official schedule that will automatically reflect any future event changes or description updates. Log in to your Integra account to create your custom schedule; you can download the mobile app on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Don’t forget to manually refresh the app to check for the latest schedule changes.
*please note that schedules are tentative and may change at any time leading up to the event
Attend Our Special Events
We have special opportunities scheduled throughout the Leadership Symposium to connect, inspire, and celebrate with other attendees!
Thursday, Feb. 12
Welcome dinners specific to ADs, EDs, and Board/Admin are open to all attendees in the relevant roles. Please rsvp here for headcount & to receive location details the week of Symposium.
Friday, Feb. 13
Everyone registered for Symposium has free admission to the Ensemble Showcase at 7:15pm on Friday, in the Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center.
The public, including friends, family, and anyone not registered for Symposium are welcome to attend the concert, but they need to purchase tickets online here for $20 plus fees.
Saturday, Feb. 14
We encourage everyone to dress in red on Saturday, especially for the Midwest Choral Blockbuster and After Party, to celebrate Valentine’s Day!
Midwest Choral Blockbuster | 6:15pm at the Davidson Theatre, preceded by 5:00pm Reception
Everyone registered for Symposium has free admission to the Midwest Choral Blockbuster in the Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center. Attendees of Symposium only will be able to eat and drink with each other starting at 5:00pm in the Studio Theatre and Davidson Theatre Lobbies; a complementary buffet will be offered to all paid delegates, and drinks can be purchased at the bar (drinks are allowed inside the theatre for the performance). The concert and fundraiser begin at 6:15pm.
The public, including friends, family, and anyone not registered for Symposium are welcome to attend the concert and fundraiser, but they need to purchase tickets online here for $30 plus fees.
After Party — Valentine Red Party | 9:00pm at AXIS
Please join us for our after party following the Midwest Choral Blockbuster at AXIS Nightclub (775 N High St)! The party starts at 9pm (doors open at 8pm) and is presented by GALA Choruses, the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, and the Columbus Coyotes. Naysha Lopez, RuPaul’s Season 8 and All-Stars 8 contestant, will be making a special appearance!
Everyone must purchase a ticket to attend the after party at AXIS, regardless of whether you registered for Symposium! Purchase tickets in advance online here; use code GALA26 for a discounted price of $20 before 2/8, and $25 on 2/8 and before 2/14. Tickets at the door are $30. Attendees must be 21+.
Sign up for Shark Tank!
Returning after a successful debut at last year’s Symposium, we will be hosting a Shark Tank-style contest on Saturday, February 14th during the 2026 Symposium. Any member chorus with an annual budget less than $300,000 is welcome to compete for the chance to receive a $5,000 grant for a project that adds value to their chorus and community. Each participating chorus will make a 5-minute presentation to a panel of judges who will select the winner. Applications are due by February 9th—please see this document for more information & the application. Please reach out to Eve Campbell (evecampbell@att.net) with any questions. All are welcome to watch the final presentations at 2:15pm in the Shed Lounge on Saturday!
Schedule Your 1:1 Sessions
On Friday, February 13th from 1pm–5pm, Symposium attendees can reserve complimentary 1:1 sessions with Eve Campbell and Kathleen Hansen, GALA Choruses’ 411 Advisors, and/or Reese Schmid, GALA Choruses’ Membership & Communications Manager. Eve can consult with you on board and staff relationship issues, strategic planning, board fundraising responsibilities, best practices, and more. Kathleen can consult with you on repertoire and licensing, programming, AD roles and responsibilities, and support for new ADs. Reese is available to discuss any questions or concerns you have about making the most of your GALA Choruses membership or our events; she also would love to learn about the needs and challenges of your organization to help us better serve our community. Please reserve an appointment here to meet with each of them.
Local Recommendations
- LGBTQ Events & Attractions
- Columbus 2025/2026 Visitor Guide
- Attendee Savings Pass
- Restaurants in Downtown Columbus
Symposium Registration Pricing
For budgeting purposes, folks should include travel to Columbus, Ohio, and an estimated $200/night for accommodations.
| Registration | Member Price | Non-Member Price | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early | $300 | $450 | June 1, 2025 | Sept. 30, 2025 |
| Regular | $325 | $475 | Oct. 1, 2025 | Nov. 30, 2025 |
| Late | $350 | $500 | Dec. 1, 2025 | Feb. 12, 2026 |
| Singer* participating in the Midwest Showcase or Ensemble Boot Camp | $150 | $300 | June 1, 2025 | Feb. 12, 2026 |
| Senior / Disabled | $275 | $425 | June 1, 2025 | Feb. 12, 2026 |
| Ensemble | $500 | $650 | June 1, 2025 | Oct. 21, 2025 |
Archived Information
Ensemble Bootcamp
2026 Symposium in Columbus will have Ensemble Boot Camp. Dr. Ethan Sperry will work with Ensembles from around GALA, culminating in a joint performance Friday. Ensemble registration cost is $500 for the group. The ensemble performance will be on Friday, 2/13 at 7:15pm ET in the Davidson Theatre at the Columbus Riffe Center. Registration has closed for the Ensemble Bootcamp but if you are interested in signing your group up please reach out to info@galachoruses.org.
Tickets for the public/anyone not registered for Symposium are available for $20 per person plus fees for Friday night’s Ensemble Concert.
Saturday Night Midwest Choral Blockbuster
On Saturday night of Symposium, six local choruses will perform in a Midwest Choral Blockbuster, hosted by Naysha Lopez, RuPaul’s Season 8 and All-Stars 8 contestant. This concert will take place on Saturday, 2/14 at 5pm ET at the Davidson Theatre at the Columbus Riffe Center, followed by a party for all Symposium attendees and performers.
While there is no individual cost for Ensemble Boot Camp or Local Chorus members to perform at Symposium, they can take advantage of the workshops that GALA offers for the reduced cost of $150.
Tickets for the public/anyone not registered for Symposium are available for $30 per person (plus fees) for Saturday night’s Choral Blockbuster Concert. VIP tickets are available at $60 per person (plus fees), which will support our fundraiser and entitle ticket holders to complimentary food before the show.
*If you are interested in registering for the Symposium and are not a member of a GALA chorus, or an individual member of GALA Choruses, please consider applying for individual membership. Annual dues are $50 and include additional benefits besides discounted event registration.
Request for Workshop Proposals
GALA Choruses invites you to share your skills and talents with others in the LGBTQ choral movement by submitting a Symposium Workshop Proposal. Note that symposium workshop sessions will be 60 or 90 minutes in length. In keeping with historical precedent and current financial practice and policy, GALA members volunteer their services when serving as a clinician, presenter, or in other professional capacity for GALA sponsored events. GALA Choruses member clinicians are expected to officially register for the conference event at the posted rates.
The deadline for workshop proposals was August 31st, 2025.