GALA 411 Program
Looking for some advice from experienced chorus management and board professionals? Investigate the GALA 411 Program.
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Check out the valuable tips, tools, and programs available within our vast Resource Center.
GALA 411 Advisors
GALA Choruses produces workshops, conferences, and a quadrennial Festival to provide educational programming, networking, and social opportunities for our member choruses.
Artistic Advisor
Kathleen Hansen has been working in the field of music education and performance since 1998. She has a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in music education and trumpet, a teaching credential, and a Master of Music degree in conducting. Kathleen is passionate about providing meaningful opportunities for all people to connect through musical experiences. She believes in the power of good musical programming, effective team training, and mission-based organizational leadership to build life-changing choruses. In addition to her work with San Diego Women’s Chorus (GALA), Kathleen directs the Sun Harbor Chorus and San Diego Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, where she is one of 30 worldwide “International Faculty”. She is an active clinician, adjudicator and vocal coach.
You can reach Kathleen at artisticadvisor@galachoruses.org.
Board Development Advisor
Eve Campbell has worked in the Not- For-Profit industry all of her adult life and loves being involved in mission driven experiences. As an early member of The Women's Chorus of Dallas she found her passion for the gay and lesbian choral movement. She served as the Executive Director of TWCD for over ten years and currently works as a consultant to non-profit arts organizations. Eve has served on numerous non-profit boards including the GALA Choruses board, with a term as president during the Festival Year 2000 in San Jose, CA. During her time with the GALA Choruses board Eve began working with member chorus boards to help with strategic planning, crisis intervention, annual planning, fund development strategies and other board issues. Since her first GALA Choruses consult in 1998, she has had over 100 consults with different choruses and other non-profits, many multiple times, as repeat requests have been frequent. She has also presented at Leadership Conferences, Festival and Artistic Director and Manager's meeting. Recognized as both a community leader and a leader in the gay and lesbian choral movement, Eve has received numerous awards including the Legacy Award from GALA Choruses (the organization's highest honor), the Extra Mile Award for service to the Dallas gay and lesbian community and a lifetime membership award with the Women's Chorus of Dallas. You can reach Eve at boardadvisor@galachoruses.org
Youth and Education Advisor
Praised for his collaborative spirit and eclectic music programming, Ryan LaBoy is a singer, conductor, and educator, currently serving as Artistic Director of Berkshire Children's Chorus and as Choir Director at Bard College at Simon's Rock-- the nation's only four-year "early college." He also sings with Twin Cities-based chamber ensemble, Border CrosSing, which recently released their debut album "Un Milagro de Fe" to critical acclaim. Additionally, Ryan serves as a Virtual Music Instructor at the Shanti Bhavan Children's Project (Tamil Nadu, India) and as a Program Committee Member with Broadway for Arts Education (NYC). Before arriving in the Berkshires, Ryan spent three years as Director of Choirs & Voice at North Hennepin Community College where he conducted Concert Choir and Chamber Singers and led the Voice Studio, and served as Founding Music Director of ComMUSICation-- an El Sistema-inspired choral youth-development program in St. Paul, Minnesota-- leading them to performances with Grammy Award-winners like the Minnesota Orchestra and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Super Bowl LII). Ryan holds degrees in Choral Conducting and Music Education from the University of Minnesota and Westminster Choir College, respectively. Ryan can be reached at youth@galachoruses.org.
Contact:
Member choruses may request the services of a GALA 411 Advisor by completing this form.
Cost:
Consultation is provided without charge for GALA member choruses; choruses cover lodging, meals and transportation for on-site consultations, clinics and retreats.
New Harmony Facilitators
Need help digging into GALA’s New Harmony workbook and training resources? GALA’s New Harmony facilitators can assist with where to start, modifying scenarios and discussions to best connect to your chorus, finding or training facilitators for group discussion, etc.
Sam Bullington is a public speaker and workshop facilitator, college professor and spiritual counselor, and founder and director of Phoenix, Colorado's Trans Community Choir—the longest existing trans choir in history! Sam is nonbinary trans with a Ph.D in global gender and sexuality studies. Sam regularly gives talks and leads workshops on unlearning racism, decolonizing the classroom, self-care for activists, healthy masculinities, reimagining our vision for social change, trans leadership, reigniting passion, and the future of gender and sexuality. Sam sang with the Santa Cruz Gay and Lesbian Chorus in its first season (1994) and was co-chair of TransVoices, the trans choir that was generated from the Trans Voices Festival sponsored by One Voice Mixed Chorus in 2004. Sam went on to sing with One Voice, driving 8 hours each way to attend rehearsal each week for an entire year after being hired at the University of Missouri. Sam went to his first GALA Festival in 2012 with Harmony Chorale in Denver (where he was on the board) and it was the lack of trans visibility at the 2012 Festival that prompted Sam to start his own trans choir in 2015. Sam loves gospel music and, in additional to GALA choruses, has sung with 3 gospel choirs, including a decade with the One World Inspirational Choir at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival. Sam is also very involved with the Dances of Universal Peace and is on their Liberation Committee, the DUP North America equivalent to the GALA New Harmony Task Force. Sam has done research in South Africa since 1997, including with Gender Dynamix—the first trans organization on the African continent, and hopes to start a trans choir in South Africa as well! Sam received the Women’s Studies Social Justice Award from the University of Minnesota, the Catalyst Award (Honoring those who speak up and out and often) from the University of Missouri, and the Kevin B Winge Award for Community Leadership from the Philanthrofund Foundation. Sam is in the midst of completing 3 books: Gender Diversity in Music Education: A Primer with Sarah Bartolome (Routledge), Learning from Polyamory: A Spiritual Seeker’s Guide to Love (Beacon Press), and Transgender Wisdom: What I’ve Learned about Gender and Life from Living in the Grey Areas. Sam was a founding member of GALA’s New Harmony Task Force and Sam's passion is creating a world in which we all can thrive.
Reid Vanderburgh is a transman and retired therapist. In 1986, he was a founding member of the Portland Lesbian Choir and sang with that group for eleven years. In 1990, he helped found Bridges Vocal Ensemble, a subgroup shared by the Portland Lesbian Choir and Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. Reid transitioned from alto to bass while a member of Bridges. Though supportive of his transition, the PLC was sad to see him leave in 1997, as he began taking hormones. In 2001, upon returning to Portland after graduate school, Reid joined Confluence: Willamette Valley LGBT Chorus and sang bass with that group for seven years. In 2008, he joined the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and continues to sing baritone with PGMC. He is a baritone section rep, and a member of PGMC’s DEI committee. Reid is also a member of the New Harmony Task Force for GALA Choruses. In 2016, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service by GALA Choruses. In addition to his work with GALA, Reid is a member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church and sings in the church choir when not under quarantine. He has taught many Continuing Education classes on topics ranging from Religion and Trans Identity to History of the LGBTQQIAAPNb Acronym.
Maria-Elena Grant, born in the UK, moved with her family to the Bronx, New York in the late 1970s. Early in her career during the 1980s, Maria-Elena co-founded Blues, a social networking group for lesbians, the first of its kind in the borough. In 1993 Maria-Elena joined the POC Steering Committee, a group of LGBT organizations of color working to achieve better visibility for themselves within the community. In addition, Maria-Elena was a founding mother of The Audre Lorde Project and an early member of The Unity Fellowship Church, Brooklyn. She served for six years on the board of directors of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) and recently re-joined the board for a third term.
Maria-Elena has been recognized for her service to the LGBT community by receiving numerous awards including a citation from New York City Council Member C. Virginia Fields and a service excellence award from GALA Choruses. In addition, Big Apple Performing Arts has acknowledged her more than 25 years of activism. Maria-Elena’s most satisfying achievement continues to be her work in Lavender Light: The Black and People of all Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir, of which she has been a member for 30 years and served as Co-Chair for the last 28. Maria-Elena, is honored to be a participating member of The New Harmony Task force and a Co-Writer of the New Harmony Handbook and she is always happy to participate in any dialogue that helps to create a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.
Contact:
Member choruses may request the services of a New Harmony Facilitator. Facilitation via web video or phone is provided without charge for GALA member choruses.
Questions? Contact the 411 New Harmony advisers at NewHarmony@galachoruses.org.
To help with our future planning, please complete this feedback form after your New Harmony facilitation.