The renowned Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) will grace Pasadena with a transformative concert on Saturday, May 18, championing inclusion and artistic excellence through stirring harmonies.
With over four decades of uplifting LGBTQ+ visibility, the globally acclaimed Chorus has utilized music as a catalyst for fostering understanding across diverse communities.
“We have sung for causes such as stopping hate and violence,” said Lou Spisto, GMCLA Executive Director and Producer. “We have sung for the Right to Marry and have really taken up causes.”
Hosted by First United Methodist Church’s Third@First series, the event offers free admission, inviting attendees to immerse themselves in the Chorus’s powerful advocacy messages.
“Our message is a theme of unity, commonality and connection through music. It’s a theme of inclusion,” Spisto said. “We’re going to be singing a great number of songs on stage, and about 40% of the concert will be joined by Pasadena Pro Musica, the first United Methodist Church choir, Urban Voices Project, and the West Coast Singers. And it’ll be a wide variety of musical styles.”
Alongside local ensembles, the Chorus will present a diverse repertoire spanning choral works, pop hits, and communal sing-alongs featuring Wilkie Ferguson II as a guest soloist.
“We’re really looking forward to covering a lot of genres of music and styles, from choral music to pop music,” said Spisto, detailing the meticulous rehearsal process involved in concert preparations.
For Junko Ueno Garrett, Ph.D., Artistic Coordinator of the Third@First series, hosting the acclaimed group aligns seamlessly with First United Methodist Church’s mission of community outreach and artistic diversity.
“Collaborating with Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles fits perfectly with our goals of diversity, education, and engagement,” Garrett said. “We are so excited to have GMCLA!”
The concert exemplifies First United Methodist Church’s inclusive ethos, and Garrett expressed enthusiasm for the ensuing dialogue fostered through the power of music.
“For over 40 years, GMCLA has built an international reputation for musical excellence while remaining deeply rooted in service to the LA community,” he said. “As a leader of LGBT and performing arts organizations, GMCLA exposes new communities to the message of equality. Please join us for this exciting event!”
With anticipation building, Spisto hopes the performance catalyzes unity.
“We hope this provides everyone the opportunity to come together, to sing together, to listen to great music, to hear great music, to experience it, and to just enjoy celebrating our songs and ourselves together in unity,” he said.
For more information, visit https://www.thirdatfirst.org/10thseason/2023/9/12/gmcla.
To learn more about the GMCLA, visit https://www.gmcla.org/.
