The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, Inc. Harold Dioquino, Artistic Director & Conductor Presents
HOLIDAYS AT SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL Saturday, December 14, 2019
HOLIDAYS AT HARD ROCK LIVE WITH JORDIN SPARKS Sunday, December 15, 2019
Hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood
Christopher Toth
James Smith
Umberto Veltri
GMCSF Principal Accompanist
Production Director
Production Assistant
Dr. John McCarty
Scott Hindley
Joseph Fletcher & Bruce Anderson
Choreographer
Assistant Conductor
Wardrobe
Costumes and technical equipment generously sponsored by Stephen V. Fuller & Christof Catlin
Featured Soloists Scott Hindley Eduardo Pinto
Alex Crotts Doug Ferguson
Sean Guerrier Francois Ratzell
With Special Performances by
Tropical Wave, The GMCSF Dancers, The GMCSF Bell Choir
Tropical Wave’s holiday performances are generously sponsored by the Bears of South Florida
ASL Interpreters: Keith Muller & Karen Dougherty Flute: Robert D. Billington
Orchestra
Violin: Daniela Lemus Cello: Benjamin Whitman Bass: Paul Panditt Trumpet: Mark Poljak Gary Mayone & Julian Fernandez Percussion: Horn: Holly Ballard Christopher Toth Organ/Keyboard: Trombone: Stephanie Rasch-Chaves Piano: Edwin Neimann A very special thank you to: Clarinet: Kenneth Robertson
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood
Susan Renneisen, Vice President of Community Affairs & Special Events Erick Eldridge, Director of Special Events David Gold, Vice President of Entertainment Brett Annis, Box Office Manager
Sunshine Cathedral
Reverend Durrell Watkins, Senior Minister Reverend Robert Griffin, Executive Minister Kurt Litzenberger, Facilities Manager NOTE: Audio and video recording of any kind and flash photography are prohibited.
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11/19/2019 4:30:52 PM
A MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR
Welcome and thank you for being here tonight. Our holiday concerts commence our 10 year anniversary festivities. We are extremely excited that amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, you have decided to join us in celebrating our first mainstage concert. One of the reasons why I particularly love the holiday season is due to my childhood understanding that Christmas is about family. I am extremely blessed that for the last 10 years I have been part of a loving and caring brotherhood. I also consider myself fortunate, because for those 10 years I have witnessed the massive transformation and evolution of the chorus that you are supporting tonight. These advances have helped us garner new singing members and dedicated volunteers throughout the years. This summer, the chorus welcomed Dr. John McCarty to the brotherhood as our new Assistant Conductor. We are all looking forward to experiencing Dr. John’s artistry and expertise in the upcoming concerts this season. For our holiday concert this year, we are collaborating with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide support for those affected by this devastating disease and to raise awareness of continued progress in treatments. We learned during this collaboration that the battle is not over yet and that we have a long way to go. Tonight’s featured inspiring story revolves around the philanthropic work of two gentlemen from Orlando whose advocacy for those suffering with Alzheimer’s is worthy of recognition. I have no doubt that the work they’ve done in the community will motivate all of us to learn and do all we can to help those dealing with the effects of this disease. Again, welcome and on behalf of the men of the chorus, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Harold Dioquino
Artistic Director and Conductor
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
GUEST ARTIST
JORDIN SPARKS Jordin Sparks is a Grammy nominated, multi-platinum, singer/songwriter and actress who, in one of the show’s highest rated seasons, garnered worldwide attention as winner of season six American Idol. Sparks was just seventeen years old when she won the coveted title. Her self-titled debut went platinum, selling over two million copies worldwide. The first three singles of “Jordin Sparks” went top five and the album’s second single, “No Air” sold four million digital downloads. “No Air” has the distinction of being the third highest selling single by any American Idol contestant and is listed #27 in Billboard’s Top 40 Biggest Duets of All Time. Sparks’ second release, “Battlefield,” debuted on the Billboard Album chart at number seven. Cumulatively, Sparks’ popular singles have sold over 10 million digital tracks in the US. Sparks is also a gif ted song writer. Arianna Grande’s smash single, “ T he Way,” was cow r i t te n by S p a r k s a n d e a r n e d h e r a B M I songwriting award. Her critically acclaimed mixed tape, BYE FELICIA, was a sampler of her highly-anticipated album, RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. The album was released in August of 2015 to rave reviews. She has toured with superstars Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, The Jonas Brothers, New Kids on The Block and the Backstreet Boys, as well as headlined her own tour. Sparks impressive vocal talent has made her the go-to anthem singer and she has performed at many high-profile sporting events such as Super Bowl (XLII), NASCAR’s Daytona 500, Indy 500, etc. She has also lent her voice to recordings for films such as Disney’s African Cats, Beauty and the Beast and Best Man Holiday. She has garnered two BET Awards, one American Music Award, one People’s Choice Award and has been nominated for two MTV Awards and a Grammy. After Sparks Battlefield tour, she headed straight to The Great White Way and starred in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway smash, In the Heights. She made her film debut playing the lead role in the SONY Pictures film, Sparkle, opposite Whitney Houston. Other film credits include, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, opposite Jennifer Hudson and Anthony Mackie (produced by Alicia Keys), Left Behind with Nicholas Cage, and the Christopher Hicky directed film, The Grace of Jake. This past summer she appeared in two films. Jordin was the voice of Daisy in the movie, SHOW DOGS, and Bridgette in her last film, GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD. She has also appeared in numerous television programs and specials both as an actress and performer such as VH1 Divas, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, CSI Crime Scene Investigation, Lifetime movie Dear Secret Santa, Billboard Music Awards, and more. Jordin’s positive body image, message and success has impacted people worldwide. She considers philanthropy an integral part of her life and was recently profiled by CNN Heroes and Dress for Success for her charity work. Various organizations and campaigns supported include the U.S.O. by traveling to the Middle East with the Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff to perform for the troops, Partnership for Healthier America, The Boys and Girls Club of America, Reading is Fundamental, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, Starkey Hearing Foundation, Stand Up to Cancer and many others through her own charity, The M.A.D. (Making A Difference) Girls. Today she is considered a social media influencer due to her impressive social media following. She has successfully transitioned into network broadcasting hosting/co-hosting on some of television’s most iconic programs such as The Dish on Dr. Oz, NBC’s TODAY Show, ABC’s The View, CBS’ The Talk, PBS’ Great Performances (with John Lithgow) amongst others. She is currently working on her untitled fourth album.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF) The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF) has become one of the region’s largest and most successful community-based choruses; celebrated for outstanding musicianship, creative programming and community outreach. Each year, GMCSF reaches over 19,000 audience members with its messages of love and inclusiotn. Our December holiday concerts launch GMCSF’s tenth season of serving the community. With 130 men on its singing roster, GMCSF is the largest gay men’s chorus in the southeastern United States. Harold Dioquino, Artistic Director & Conductor Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida
in
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Mr. Dioquino has over 25 years of experience conducting vocal groups of various sizes and styles. He brings with him vast experience all facets of musical performance—programming, research, music licensing, arranging vocal and instrumental parts, and rehearsing and conducting performances. Mr. Dioquino received his Bachelor in Music from the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao City in the Philippines. He is highly regarded for his excellent work with the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and his artistic leadership of the singing group Dinggin, an acclaimed South Florida vocal ensemble. Mr. Dioquino also the Director of Music for Church by the Sea, Bal Harbour. Dr. John McCarty, Assistant Conductor Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida
Dr. John McCarty earned his undergraduate degree in voice and vocal music education from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN), his Master in Choral Conducting from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN), and his doctorate in choral conducting from James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA). He has presented at professional conferences, conducted honors choirs, and led workshops throughout the east coast of the United States; tmost recently presenting his research on applying adult learning theory in the rehearsal setting at the Athens Institute for Education & Research (ATINER) Conference in Athens, Greece. Dr. McCarty is currently teaching in the Department of Performing Arts & Industries at Miami Dade College in Kendall and the Department of Theatre Arts at the University of Miami. He was formerly the Director of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami. Before moving to Florida, Dr. McCarty was the Director of Choral Music at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia. While in Virginia, he also conducted the Crozet Community Chorus, the Page County Community Choir, the Main Street Singers, and was the music director at Clover Hill United Methodist Church.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
FEATURED PERFORMERS
SOLOISTS
Alex Crotts
Doug Ferguson
Scott Hindley
Not pictured: Sean Gurrier
Eduardo Pinto
François Ratzel
TROPICAL WAVE Tropical Wave is the outreach ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida. They are called into service for special performances and when a performance space cannot handle the full chorus. They area also frequently showcased in our mainstage concerts.
Front Row: Harold Rodriguez, Ronnie Jones, Jr., Assistant Conductor John McCarty Felix Fidelibus, Dustin Ewing, Johann Torres Second Row: John Chaffin, Doug Cureton, Tim Richardson, Gregg Bennett Rick Heal, Charles Robinson, Derek Barbara, Bryan Schamus, Rex Beyer Daniel St. Germaine, Paul Guariglia, Tony Corrente
The GMCSF Dancers Michael Anthony Fred Boykin Joseph Cappiello Bert Cohen Doug Cureton Roly Del Rio Chad Edgar
Doug Ferguson Michael Gillespie Scott Hindley David R. Littlefield Alan McKnight Jorge Ornelas, Jr. Francois Ratzel
Tim Richardson Bob Rose Charlie Siegel Larry Small Eric Strom Tim Yarbrough
The GMCSF Bell Choir Bruce Anderson Doug Cureton Doug Ferguson Felix Fidelibus
Walt Gardner David Gray Paul Guariglia Jake Skarin
Rick Vaughan Thank you to Philip Chesney from Sunshine Cathedral for coaching our handbell choir.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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DECEMBER 14, 2019 – SUNSHINE CATHEDRAL
ACT I A Christmas Carol from Scrooge
words and music by Leslie Bricusse, Arr. by Harold Dioquino
Ring Those Christmas Bells
words Marvin Fisher, music by Gus Levene, Arr. by Ryan Murphy Sponsored by the members of GMCSF, in loving memory of our board member, Pat Seddon
The First Noel
English Carol, Arr. by Dan Forrest Sponsored by the First Tenor Section and dedicated to the memory of our first tenors George Brown & Bob Blount
Esta Noche Soloist: Eduardo Pinto
Traditional Spanish Carol, Arr. by John Rutter Sponsored by the Tenor 2 Section. Bravo, Eduardo! From your Tenor 2 brothers
Convidando Está la Noche Tropical Wave Silver Bells Tropical Wave
Juan García de Zéspedes words and music by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans, Arr. By Kevin Robison Sponsored by Tropical Wave and dedicated to Harold Dioquino
Ose Shalom Gloria
Traditional Hebrew text, music by John Leavitt
Randol Alan Bass Sponsored by the Baritone Section
ACT II Making Spirits Bright
Arr. by Chad Weirick
Sponsored by the Baritone Section for our brother Tim Richardson in memory of your husband Darrell Finleyson
SparkleJollyTwinkleJingley (from Elf) words by Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar Soloist: Francois Ratzell, Guest Conductor: Todd Masnicki Arr. by Andy Beck I Wish It Could be Christmas Everyday Tropical Wave
words and music by Roy Wood, Arr. by Stefan Wyatt
The Elves’ Broadway Christmas Arr. by Kevin Robison Soloist: Scott Hindley, Elves: Bob Rose, Fred Boykin, Charlie Siegel, Tim Yarbrough, Roly Del Rio Sponsored by Fred Boykin & Jack Killen Our Favorite Son Conductor: Dr. John McCarty Somewhere in My Memory Silent Night
words and music by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden & Adolph Green words by Leslie Bricusse, music by John Williams, Arr. by Mark Hayes Sponsored by Bob Pennington and John Burch
words by Joseph Mohr, music by Franz Grüber, Arr. by Dan Forrest Sponsored by David Gray and dedicated to the memory of Mary Jayne Ronan Gray
O Holy Night Soloists: Alex Crotts, Doug Ferguson, Sean Guerrier
Adolphe Adam, Arr. by David Clydesdale Sponsored by the Bass Section
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
DECEMBER 15, 2019 – HARD ROCK LIVE!
ACT I A Christmas Carol from Scrooge
words and music by Leslie Bricusse, Arr. by Harold Dioquino
Ring Those Christmas Bells words Marvin Fisher, music by Gus Levene, Arr. by Ryan Murphy Sponsored by the members of GMCSF, in loving memory of our board member, Pat Seddon The First Noel English Carol, Arr. by Dan Forrest Sponsored by the First Tenor Section and dedicated to the memory of our first tenors George Brown & Bob Blount Christmas Time to Me Jordin Sparks Do You Hear What I Hear? Jordin Sparks Esta Noche Soloist: Eduardo Pinto Silver Bells Tropical Wave
words by Noel Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Traditional Spanish Carol, Arr. by John Rutter Sponsored by the Tenor 2 Section. Bravo, Eduardo! From your Tenor 2 brothers words and music by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans, Arr. By Kevin Robison Sponsored by Tropical Wave and dedicated to Harold Dioquino
Ose Shalom Gloria
Traditional Hebrew Text,music by John Leavitt
Randol Alan Bass Sponsored by the Baritone Section
ACT II Making Spirits Bright
Arr. by Chad Weirick
Sponsored by the Baritone Section for our brother Tim Richardson in memory of your husband Darrell Finleyson
SparkleJollyTwinkleJingley (from Elf) Soloist: Francois Ratzell I’ll Be Home for Christmas Jordin Sparks
words by Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Skylar Arr. by Andy Beck words by Kim Gannon and music by Walter Kent
The Elves’ Broadway Christmas Arr. by Kevin Robison Soloists: Scott Hindley, Elves: Bob Rose, Fred Boykin, Charlie Siegel, Tim Yarbrough, Roly Del Rio Sponsored by Fred Boykin & Jack Killen Our Favorite Son
words and music by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden & Adolph Green
Somewhere in My Memory Silent Night
words by Leslie Bricusse, music by John Williams, Arr. by Mark Hayes Sponsored by Bob Pennington and John Burch
words by Joseph Mohr, music by Franz Grüber, Arr. by Dan Forrest Sponsored by David Gray and dedicated to the memory of Mary Jayne Ronan Gray
O Holy Night Soloist: Jordin Sparks
Adolphe Adam, Arr. by David Clydesdale Sponsored by the Bass Section
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
PROGRAM NOTES
ACT I A Christmas Carol from Scrooge Double Oscar and Grammy Award winner Leslie Bricusse wrote the score for the 1970 British film’s faithful retelling of Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic story, with Albert Finney staring as Scrooge. Bricusse not only composed new music and lyrics, he also authored the book for the 1992 London’s West End musical theater adaptation of the film, this time with Anthony Newley as the lead. In both the film and stage versions, A Christmas Carol is the upbeat ensemble number setting the opening scene for the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey to redemption and has been arranged by the maestro to open GMCSF’s performance this evening.
Ring Those Christmas Bells Gus Levene and Marvin Fisher’s “Ring Those Christmas Bells” was published by Fred Waring’s Shawnee Press in 1952 and first recorded on the Decca label by Peggy Lee on the flip side of her single “It’s Christmas Time Again.” Six years later Fred Waring’s choral group, The Pennsylvanians, recorded it as the opening song to their classic album The Sounds of Christmas. And it has been included in over 100 Christmas albums since.
The First Noel The current form of this Cornish carol was first published in Carols Ancient and Modern (1823) and Gilbert and Sandys Carols (1833) Some musicologists assert that the text of the carol dates as far back as the late 14th century, noting that the word “noel” is itself a late medieval French transliteration of the Latin “natalis dies” (day of birth). Some legends give names to the ‘certain poor shepherds” and held the belief that invoking their names was a protection from the venom of snake bites. In a 15th century mystery play, one of these poor shepherds, Trowle, had nothing but a pair of his wife’s old hose as a gift to the Christ child! None of that diminishes the simple elegance of this hymn so beloved in the season’s inspirational repertoire.
Christmas Time to Me (Sunday only) We are very privileged to hear our guest artist perform her own composition, Christmas Time to Me featured in The Best Man Holiday, Malcolm Lee’s 2013 sequel to his highly acclaimed 1999 comedy-drama film The Best Man. Telling the story of a reunion of a group of friends gathering for an extended Holiday party, the sequel provides scenes of relationships in trouble, illness darkening the future admixed with hilariously entertaining antics that only good friends know how to serve up. Like the 1999 original, The Best Man Holiday was warmly received by film goers and critics alike. According to film critic Ann Hornaday, “not only has his ensemble aged remarkably well, but his film also is once again part of an exciting time in black film …(It was a) rare Hollywood movie that presented African American life not as an urban ‘problem’ but as a lush wish-fulfillment fantasy of prosperity, friendship and faith.”
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
BY GMCSF CHORUS MEMBER JIM LOPRESTI
Do You Hear What I Hear (Sunday only) “…Pray for peace, people everywhere.” As composer Gloria Shayne reported in a 2006 interview with the LA Times, the lyrics to the popular Christmas song, Do You Hear What I Hear, were inspired by the sight of children in strollers in New York City in October, 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis. The carol had deep emotional roots for Shayne who had a long personal history with President John Kennedy, as well. Born in 1923, she grew up in Brookline, MA, next door to the Joseph and Rose Kennedy family.
Esta Noche English composer John Rutter is especially celebrated for his extensive repertoire of choral music for Christmas. Many of these works have been premiered by his own choral group, the Cambridge Singers, and they manifest his distinctive contribution to classic British melodic and harmonic style. But there is another side to the great English master. Commenting on one of his larger works, the “Magnificat,” he spoke of being influenced by Spanish festivals of the Virgin Mary: “These images of outdoor celebration were, I think, somewhere in my mind as I wrote, though I was not fully conscious of the fact till afterwards.” (GMCSF performed a movement from that work in 2015.) The “Spanish festivals” influence is quite overt, however, in his arrangement of “Esta Noche” (this night), a traditional Spanish Christmas song that tells of the birth at Bethlehem and the gentle caress of the Holy Child by the Virgin. Rutter brings his own special kind of exuberance to the stage: “Alegria!” (Joy!)
Convidando Está la Noche (Saturday only) Mexican composer Juan García de Zéspedes began his long musical career as a boy soprano in the choir at Puebla Cathedral in 1630 under Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla. In 1670 he became maestro de capilla of the cathedral. He is one of a group of talented Mexican composers in the Baroque era whose work drew acclaim even from European composers. Tonight’s selection by Tropical Wave is arguably his best-known piece, a joyous song that combines more serious musical idioms evoking a traditional image of the newborn infant with festive, rhythmic sections marked “duo guaracha,” a form now more closely associated with Cuba. The overall effect might be considered like a hymn alternating with a jam session, according to Jonathon Miller, Artistic Director of Chicago A Capella which dedicated a whole Holiday Program in Dec 2012 to music by Mexican Baroque composers.
Silver Bells When longtime songwriting collaborators Jay Livingston and Ray Evans were asked to compose a Christmas song for the 1950 gangster picture The Lemon Drop Kid, they balked. In a 2005 NPR radio interview, Evans reported bemoaning that there were already too many Christmas songs and that what they really needed was a chance to write a hit song instead. But they obliged. Contrary to the popular belief that the song was inspired by the Santa Claus or Salvation Army bells on New York City streets, Evans acknowledged in the same interview that actually it was the sound of the small, silver bell that sat in the middle of their two sided desk that started their creative juices flowing. The original title and recurring phrase they planned for the song, however,
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
PROGRAM NOTES was “Tinkle Bells.” But when Livingston’s wife heard his report of their project, she quickly changed his mind, reminding him of what young children would imagine when they heard the word “tinkle.” “Silver Bells” was first performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the movie, but it was Bing Crosby’s 1950 Decca recording of the song that opened it to a wider audience. Ironically, the royalties were handsome indeed for the songwriting duo.
Ose Shalom “What sovereignty, what awe, is His who keeps the peace in His heights.” (Job 25:2) This passage from the Common Testament is the basis for the prayer “Ose Shalom,” one version of the concluding blessing of the ‘Amidah,” (Standing Prayer) in the Jewish liturgy of daily prayer. It functions to reaffirm the belief that the Almighty has power to quell all strife and to give assurance in uncertain times that peace will prevail. The whole prayer sequence is to be recited standing because to do so imitates the angels in their posture of confidence and stillness before the Almighty. John Leavitt’s setting of the prayer evokes this quiet assurance in his use of traditional Jewish musical style, both in the instrumental melodic lines and in the choral harmonies.
Gloria In every Holiday concert since 2011, GMCSF has performed a setting of a liturgical text that retells the Christmas story. In 2015 GMCSF presented John Rutter’s “Magnificat,” the Virgin Mary’s song to her cousin Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-56 reporting the announcement from the Angel Gabriel that she is to give birth to the Messiah. And in 2017, the chorus performed Kevin Memley’s musical setting of the narrative. At all other times GMCSF has performed the “Gloria,” (or “doxology”), a collection of ancient texts generally coalesced into its present Latin form in the 4th for use in the liturgy of the Roman Rite. It is sung or recited at most Sunday Masses in the Roman Catholic Church to this day. The hymn begins with the words that the evangelist attributes to the angels announcing the birth of Christ to the shepherds (Luke 2:14). The chorus has performed settings of the Gloria by Robert Seely, Mark Hayes, Jeffrey Ames and Kevin Memley. GMCSF commissioned and presented the world premiere of Mark Hayes’ male choral voicings of a previously composed SATB chorus Gloria in 2013 and the premiere of Kevin Memley’s male choral voicing of his Gloria in 2018. This year, the chorus returns to Randol Bass’ Gloria, first performed in South Florida by GMCSF in 2011. The former Music Director of Metropolitan Winds of Dallas, Mr. Bass conducted the National Symphony of London and the Tallis Choir in a CD compendium of many of his Holiday compositions and arrangements, subsequently released under the title A Feast of Carols in 2003. His works have been performed by such notable orchestras as the Colorado Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Houston Symphony.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
BY GMCSF CHORUS MEMBER JIM LOPRESTI
ACT II Making Spirits Bright In the midst of this evening’s selection of warm and gentle carols, classical masterpieces and contemporary takes on liturgical highlights, GMCSF serves up a frolicking medley of “Jingle Bells,” ”We Need a Little Christmas,” “ Fah Who Foraze” (from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas), “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”--both the original Eddie Cantor version and the Bruce Springsteen cover song. Weirick’s arrangement was originally written for, and performed by, the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus in 1996. Weirick had moved to Boston just two years before that Boston premier to pursue further study in music composition at the New England Conservatory, leaving his post as rehearsal pianist for the Rockettes and organist at Radio City Music Hall.
SparkleJollyTwinkleJingley (from Elf) On one Christmas Eve, a baby boy at a New York orphanage crawls undetected into Santa’s sack and is unwittingly transported on the globe-trotting sleigh, not to be discovered until everyone is back at the North Pole. The elves name him Buddy after the brand label on his diaper, and Papa Elf adopts and raises him. The film Elf tells the charming story of the madcap adventures that lead to his new life back among his human family who, up until Buddy’s arrival, have made it on Santa’s naughty list. Buddy helps them, and much of New York, remember the “true meaning of Christmas.” According to critic Roger Ebert the 2003 film is “wickedly funny” and “it charms the socks right off the mantelpiece.” Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan adapted the film for the 2010 Broadway musical version of Elf with a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin. The Broadway production ran for two Holiday seasons and four North American tours, the last in 2016.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
(Sunday only)
Bing Crosby recorded White Christmas in 1942 and it stayed on the charts for seventeen weeks, becoming America’s favorite Christmas song. Exactly one year later he recorded his second Christmas classic, Kim Gannon and Walter Kent’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, written from the perspective of a soldier penning a deeply felt letter from the front lines. The US War Department released its own recording in 1945 of this most requested song for USO performances in the field. Beloved to military and civilians alike during the final months of World War II, the song evokes both nostalgia for family and friends in the Holiday season and hope for a reuniting of loved ones. The song’s lasting appeal lead to covers by the greatest recording artists of each generation since, from Johnny Mathis in 1958 to Demi Lovato in 2017.
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
(Saturday only)
Not well known in the US, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day is a Holiday staple in the British Isles. Roy Wood, the front man for the UK’s 70s glam rock band Wizzard, wrote and produced this 1973 Christmas song. He was the lead vocalist in that first release which included back up tracks by the lesser known Suedettes and a chorus of first year pupils from a “mixed secondary school” in Birmingham. The original
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
PROGRAM NOTES sleeve on the 1973 single also curiously credited a set of “additional noises by Miss Snob and Class 3C.” The song became a British favorite that Holiday season and was eventually remixed in 1981, using a different group of primary school children. Picked up by a British catalogue retailer some years later, it gained an even wider audience in 2007 and has been high on the UK charts for Holiday songs ever since. It gained more attention once again when it was covered in a 2013 reunion performance of British pop groups which was also the subject of a documentary on ITV2, one of the more popular British commercial streaming channels.
The Elves’ Broadway Christmas
Medleys of Christmas music are common fare for holiday concert goers. Most are not quite like what Kevin Robison has arranged. In Robison’s somewhat whacky imaginary world, Santa has chided his elves for wasting precious time preparing for his upcoming reindeer-powered flight around the globe. There is to be no more head bopping to show tunes. Not to be undone, the elves find a way to mashup 6 favorite carols with the best of Broadway: “Angels we Have Heard on High,” “Carol of the Bells,” “We Three Kings,” “Away in a Manger,” “Deck the Hall,” and “The 12 Days of Christmas” performed in ways few have heard before. Robison, former artistic director of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and frequent director of Atlanta theater productions, has been at the podium for other GALA chorus, mostly in California, busying himself composing and arranging music for many of them.
Our Favorite Son Tonight’s holiday performance is, in fact, a set of playful holiday lyrics set to the Cy Coleman song “Favorite Son” from the 1991 Tony Award winning Will Rogers Follies. One scene in The Follies recounts his 1928 tongue-in-cheek run for President as Oklahoma’s favorite son in the “Debunk Party.” His only campaign promise was to resign if he is elected. That election day, he claimed victory and instantly did as he promised. The choreography used in “Favorite One” reprises a scene from Will Rogers Follies which in turn, adapted the choreography from the 1930 hit revue of the music of Paul Whiteman, titled King of Jazz. When asked what he thought about nasty campaign rumors, “candidate” Rogers quipped in Life Magazine: “The things they whisper aren’t as bad as what they say out loud.”
Somewhere in My Memory John Williams’ score for the 1990 Holiday film classic Home Alone, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Somewhere in My Memory, the movie’s theme song with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, was also nominated for Best Original Song and the melody can be heard numerous times as the film progresses. Interestingly Bruce Boughton was originally contracted to compose the score for the film and his name was even on early posters promoting the movie. Director Chris Columbus contacted Steven Spielberg to assist him in convincing Williams to step in at the last minute. In his All Music review of the film’s sound track, Johnny Loftus singles out Somewhere in My Memory, saying that the song “is a typically sweeping affair that incorporates the childlike qualities of the film while suggesting Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
BY GMCSF CHORUS MEMBER JIM LOPRESTI
Silent Night Silent Night was first performed in the Church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, Austria, on December 24, 1818. Mohr had composed the words two years earlier, but on Christmas Eve he brought them to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service. In his written account regarding the composition of the carols, Gruber gives no mention of the specific inspiration for creating the song. One often repeated supposition is that the church organ was no longer working so that Mohr and Gruber therefore created a song for accompaniment by guitar. Some believe that Mohr simply wanted a new Christmas carol that he could play on his guitar. Austria’s Silent Night Society says that there are “many romantic stories and legends” that add their own anecdotal details to the known facts. GMCSF is one member of a consortium of 6 GALA choruses that jointly commissioned this hauntingly beautiful arrangement. The choruses are premiering the work in cities from coast to coast this month.
O Holy Night In 1847, the parish priest in Roquemaure, France asked local wine merchant and poet Placide Cappeau to write a Christmas poem for the church. At the poet’s request, French operatic composer Adolphe Adam set Cappeau’s “Minuit Chretiens” to music, simply titling it “Cantique de Noël.” Adam’s hymn was first performed at Midnight Mass that same year in the Roquemaure parish church. Ecclesiastical authorities were not especially pleased. Perhaps animated by a distaste for anything conjuring operatic musical fare, one French bishop denounced it for its “lack of musical taste and total lack of the spirit of religion.” Fortunately, this churchman’s displeasure had little effect on the rising popularity of the hymn. In 1855, Boston Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, a respected voice in the city’s emerging music scene, created and published “O Holy Night,” his English version of Cappeau’s French text introducing the song to American audiences. This was the same year that the translation of another French Carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” was first published in English. Both French implants quickly took firm root in America.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
THE FIRST SURVIVOR OF
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SINGING TONIGHT
Anthony Alacca
BJ Albright
Bruce Anderson Michael Anthony
David Baier
Derek Barbara
Robert Beaulieu
Gregg Bennett
Rex Beyer
Rodney Bolton
Fred Boykin
Tom Burakowski
John Burch
Joseph Cappiello
John Catenaci
John Chaffin
Christopher Chouinard
Bert Cohen
Tony Corrente
Alex Crotts
Doug Cureton
Roubik Danelian
Jerry Day
Roly Del Rio
Dan Drennan
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
SINGING TONIGHT
Dustin Ewing
Doug Ferguson Richard Ferguson
Felix Fidelibus
Joseph Fletcher
Cary Giacalone
Scott Guffey
Dean Hitsos
Frank Ferri
James Ficke
Darnell Frazier
Walt Gardner
Brian Garrett
Michael Gillespie
David Gray
Chuck Greer
Paul Guariglia
Rick Heal
Ron Hess
Scott Hindley
Terry Hirsh
Matthew Hoover Bradley Johnson Warren Johnson
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Stephen Kaplan
SINGING TONIGHT
Donald Kasischke
John Klomp
Peter Konrath
Wayne Laubscher
David Lawrence
John Lewis
David R. Littlefield
A. Ray Lockley
Jim Lopresti
Kevin Mahoney
Tom Malone
Mark Mattson
Alan J. McKnight
Mel Melendez
Rodrick Minnis
Jay Molluso
Miguelanjel O’Dell-Perez
Jorge Ornelas, Jr.
Nick Orr
Skip Panse
Anthony Orville Parjan
Bob Pennington
Eduardo Pinto
Ken Pope
Ramon Ramirez
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
SINGING TONIGHT
François Ratzel
Timothy Richardson
Charles Robinson
Harold Rodriguez
Bob Rose
Bryan Shamus
Steven Shapiro
Charlie Siegel
Brent Simmons
Jake Skarin
Donald Small
Larry Small
Kewan Smith
Bill Spinosa
Gregory Stanton
Daniel St. Germaine
Dennis St. Jean
Eric Strom
John Swan
Don Tomasello
Johann Torres
Michael Valdez
David Van Cleaf
Steven Van Wie
Rick Vaughan
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
SINGING TONIGHT
Jason Weston
Ray Willey
Aubrey Williams
Tim Yarbrough
Eric Ziegler
Singing Tonight But Not Pictured Chad Edgar Sean Guerrier William Tedjo
THANK YOU!
The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida thanks the following couples for generously sponsoring the Steinway concert grand piano for the 2019 Holidays at Hard Rock Live concert.
Fred Boykin & Jack Killen Christopher Chouinard & Harold Rodriguez Bradley Johnson & Wayne Laubscher Kerry Waldee & Joe Fletcher Sponsor a need for an upcoming concert! www.gmcsf.org/donate or mkent@gmcsf.org
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
BONA HALF PAGE AD
Happy Holidays
A TEN-YEAR HISTORY OF “INSPIRING THROUGH SONG.”
The Early Days: A Strong Foundation and a Home On September 7, 2010, a group of 42 gay men gathered at the UCC church hall in Oakland Park, Florida, to discuss forming a new gay men’s chorus. They wanted to establish a group that would not only excel in musicianship, but also would foster a caring brotherhood and engage its members in all levels of the chorus’ operations. The Rev Dr. Durrell Watkins, Senior Minister at Fort Lauderdale’s Sunshine Cathedral MCC, invited the new group to make the cathedral both their rehearsal and concert home free of charge for the group’s first season. While the organization’s offices re-located from the cathedral to Wilton Manors in 2015, the church has remained the rehearsal and primary concert stage for the chorus to this day. Kurt Litzenberger, Facilities Manager at the Cathedral, has provided support to the chorus from its beginnings in lighting, stage and sound design not only for performances at the Cathedral but for concerts at other South Florida venues as well.
The Chorus Gets Organized On Tuesday, Sept 14, 2010 the founding members of the new chorus had their first rehearsal. And on Sept 21, 2010, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Florida was officially incorporated. Retired attorney Doug Pew provided pro-bono legal work to assist the chorus in obtaining its 501 (c) 3 status on November 15, 2010, and with his husband, Don Croxton, formed the first board. They, along with James Laird, established a viable financial foundation for the new group. The founding board members, Doug Pew (the first chair) Don Croxton, Gerry Kennedy and B.J. Albright, functioned not only as liaisons to donors in the community, but they also set out to be the outspoken champions of the mission that the chorus membership adopted for itself in its first year: “To inspire our audiences, move spirits, open minds and change hearts through the quality of our music, the power of our words and the sight of our joy.” Dozens of community leaders in South Florida have served on the chorus’ Board of Directors since the founding days, guided by the same purpose.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
BY JIM LOPRESTI
Team Leadership The first leadership team, headed by founding President, Bill Spinosa, formed quickly and divided up the responsibilities of day to day management of the business of the chorus until GMCSF was in the position to hire staff to take on those duties. Additionally, since the very beginning, a cadre of highly dedicated volunteers, including chorus members, their friends and chorus allies, has taken care of the details of managing the chorus’ performances and community service activities. To this day, as with any successful arts group, they are an integral part of the life of the chorus, contributing such diverse services as bookkeeping, running fundraising events, preparing the stage for concerts, caring for members’ special needs, managing special events, generating program books, providing concert hospitality and so much more. From the beginning, major decisions about the mission and direction of the chorus have been made in consultation with the membership, guided by a strongly held belief in organizational transparency. Numerous chorus members have come forward over the years to contribute their organizational and artistic talents to give the young choral group a strong foundation. Besides being elected to leadership positions annually, members have formed teams for production and logistics, artistic advisement, wardrobe and volunteer management, music library management, marketing, social events, community outreach and participation in the activities of the international Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses. The chorus members formed a “We Care” committee to look out for the special needs of the members living with debilitating illnesses or mourning personal losses. And a white stool, engraved with the names of men who have passed, graces the stage at every performance. But volunteer leadership would not be enough to enable the group to reach its full potential. The chorus hired its first administrative employee, Ed Corley, the Director of Development, in 2013. And in May 2015, the chorus was finally in a position to hire an Executive Director, Mark Kent, who had extensive experience in arts management, most recently with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Office Manager Doug Leib joined the staff as office manager in the same year. Over the year, some staff members moved on to other organizations. Newly hired Director of Marketing and Sponsorship, Steve Urry, joins Mark Kent and Doug Leib on the current administrative staff for GMCSF.
Artistic Leadership Ready at the beginning to give an artistic direction to the fledgling chorus, Julliard trained pianist and choral conductor Gordon Roberts initially donated his time and talent collaborating with Harold Dioquino, Director of Dinggin, Florida’s highly regarded Filipino American vocal ensemble, as Assistant Conductor. These two founding artistic team members not only served as choral conductors, they also contributed many of the orchestral and choral arrangements of the works performed by GMCSF in those first years. Pianist Roger Rundle was appointed principal accompanist for the chorus from the first rehearsal and held that position until the chorus’ 6th season.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
A TEN-YEAR HISTORY OF “INSPIRING THROUGH SONG.” When Gordon Roberts’ tenure as Artistic Director ended after the 5th anniversary season in 2015, the chorus held a nationwide search for his replacement. The three top candidates auditioned at a special rehearsal with the chorus members on January 30, 2016. Harold Dioquino, who had stepped up to the podium as Interim Conductor for the 2015 holiday performances, was selected from that group of finalists to become GMCSF’s second Artistic Director and Conductor in February 2016. He has led the chorus to even greater accomplishments since then.
The Chorus Makes an Impact Within just a few years GMCSF has become a musical force in South Florida. Performances have reached an audience of 19,000 people as the chorus enters its second decade, and critics have acclaimed the group’s performance quality and concert innovations. The chorus has travelled twice to Denver, CO, to perform with over 150 choruses in the GALA choral festival. GMCSF commissioned internationally acclaimed composers such as Mark Hayes, Kevin Membley, Gary Fry, Robert Delgado and Kim Andre Arnesen to write, or arrange, new works for world premiere performances. And the chorus has shared the stage with award winning Broadway, television, film and recording artists, including Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Linda Eder, Alan Cumming, Matthew Morrison and Sharon Gless. So, there is no doubt that this young group has quickly made its mark as an arts organization. But that was not enough. From the earliest days, and gathered under the banner of GMCSF, the men of the chorus have marched in LGBTQ+ Pride events, lifted their voices in World AIDS Day vigils, kept alive the memory of the Holocaust, bowled to raise dollars for fellow non-profits, opened the festivities for the Holiday season in Wilton Manors, mentored LGBTQ+ youth in Broward Public Schools, spoke truth to power when the rights of citizens were under threat, and honored local and national champions of the LGBTQ+ community with special awards at concert performances. GMCSF, once the fresh idea of a small group of gay men gathered in a church hall in Oakland Park, FL, is now the largest gay men’s choruses in the southeastern U.S. Operationally, it is the 8th largest in the country. The chorus has earned the kind of reputation for excellence in musicianship, organizational skill and member support that the founders had always intended.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHORUS PRESIDENT Dear Friends: Under the baton of Artistic Director & Conductor Harold Dioquino, The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida dedicates this year in affirmation of our vision: “A Diverse World United.” It is music that brings us together. Tonight, we welcome you to the premier of an amazing Tenth Anniversary Season! This December, the Chorus strengthens its community tradition, returning “Home for the Holidays” to the Walter Lawrence & Stephen Lewis Center for the Performing Arts and Worship at Sunshine Cathedral. Moreover, the Chorus will return and embrace our incredibly generous friends at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, with the production, Holidays at Hard
Rock Live with Jordin Sparks. Aside from fulfilling our three, centerpiece concert cycles this season, our schedule sits brimful with important educational and outreach events. The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida is committed to the Maestro’s planned, “GMCSF - 10 for 10.” These ten additional community performances have been scheduled as a way to say “thank you” to everyone for the overwhelming support experienced through our first ten years. In addition, we have renewed our loyal participation in the World AIDS Day Vigil and our annual Teddy Bear Drive with the Bears of South Florida. The bear drive provides comfort to every youngster admitted to Saleh Children’s Hospital in the Broward Health System. This year’s holiday caroling events included the Gulfstream Park’s “Symphony in Lights,” the Bonnet House’s “Festival of Trees,” and Wilton Manors’ “Holiday Lighting Ceremony,” followed by an always fun evening of Chorus members caroling on the Drive. The Chorus is thrilled to have been sought after to participate in the upcoming Super Bowl Fan Fest Experience during the week leading to Super Bowl LIV. Also this season, we look forward to singing the National Anthem at the request of the Florida Panthers, Miami Heat and multiple other civic groups. GMCSF will continue contributing time and effort to The Florida AIDS Walk as well as Fort Lauderdale Pride, this year uniting with the inaugural Pride of the Americas. The Chorus will fulfill commitments throughout Broward and Miami-Dade counties this year, with fresh eyes aimed toward Palm Beach. This year, The Stonewall Pride Festival and Parade will be followed by participation in the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses [GALA] Festival. This quadrennial July event will assemble over 100 gay choruses and 7,000 singers in Minneapolis and close our amazing tenth season. The season is full as the men of the chorus continue living the mission: “We sing so that LGBTQ+ people can live their truth through quality music experiences that inspire audiences, open minds, change hearts and affirm our common humanity.” Without your continued, unselfish support, we would not be embarking on this, our milestone tenth anniversary year. The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, from our hearts and through our song, ask you to feel the joy, share the wonder and live the love this holiday season.
Michael Valdez President
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
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GMCSF LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Donald Croxton
Christopher Chouinard
Bill Elliott
Doug Pew
Mimi Pink Vice Chair
Paul Rolli
Michael Valdez Chorus President
Josel Suarez
Rick Vaughan
Dino Georgiou
Larry Small
Gerry Kennedy
Bill Spinosa
Boggy Wang
Chairman, Board of Directors
CHORUS LEADERSHIP TEAM
Front Row: Brad Johnson, Secretary; Christopher Chouinard, Treasurer; Joe Fletcher, Baritone Section Administrator; Michael Valdez, President; Tony Corrente, Tenor 1 Section Administrator Second Row: Fred Boykin, Vice President; Gregg Bennett, Bass Section Administrator; Bill Spinosa, VP of Membership; Dustin Ewing, VP of Community Relations; Doug Cureton, Tropical Wave Section Administrator
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
OUR ORGANIZATION ARTISTIC TEAM
CHORUS MEMBERS
Artistic Director / Conductor: Harold Dioquino
Tenor One
Assistant Conductor: Dr. John McCarty Production Director: James Smith Creative Consultant: Kurt Litzenberger Principal Accompanist: Chris Toth
CHORUS LEADERSHIP TEAM President: Michael Valdez Vice President: Fred Boykin Secretary: Brad Johnson Treasurer: Christopher Chouinard Vice President Membership: Bill Spinosa Tenor One Administrator: Tony Corrente Tenor Two Administrator: Rick Heal Baritone Administrator: Joe Fletcher Bass Administrator: Gregg Bennett
CHORUS STAFF Executive Director: Mark B. Kent Director of Marketing & Sponsorship: Steve Urry Office Manager/Bookkeeper: Doug Leib Office Volunteer: Howard Yopp Usher Program Coordinator: Kris Jarmann Chorus Photographer: Ginny Dixon Marketing & Social Media Consultant: Lightship Studios
Derek Barbara Bob Beaulieu Rodney Bolton Fred Boykin Joe Cannon Tony Corrente Alex Crotts Roly Del Rio Chad Edgar Doug Ferguson Michael Gillespie Matthew Hoover Mel Melendez Nick Orr Justin Perry Kenneth Pope Brian Prenda Jake Skarin Daniel St. Germaine Ansel Thompson Preston Watkins
Tenor Two
Bruce Anderson Bert Cohen Doug Cureton Dustin Ewing Darnell Frazier Walter Gardner Chuck Greer Scott Guffey Rick Heal Warren Johnson John Klomp Peter Konrath Wayne Laubscher Kenny Lewis A. Ray Lockley Anthony Jay Malluso Miguelanjel O’Dell-Perez Jorge Ornelas Jr. Anthony Orville Parjan Eduardo Pinto Francois Ratzel Ramon Ramirez Bryan Schamus Brent Simmons Robert Smith Dennis St. Jean William Tedjo Johann Torres Jason Weston Ray Willey
Baritone
Anthony Alacca Michael Anthony Bob Artale David Baier Mark Benson
Robert Benson Tom Burakowski John Catenaci John Chaffin Christopher Chouinard Daniel Drennen Frank Ferri Joseph Fletcher Michael Foley Brian Garrett Cary Giacalone David Gray Paul Guariglia Sean Guerrier Ronald Hess Craig Hinman Dean Hitsos Ronnie Jones Jr. Stephen Kaplan David Lawrence John Lewis David R. Littlefield Mark Mattson Skip (George) Panse Bob Pennington Timothy Richardson Charles Robinson Steven Shapiro Larry Small Bill Spinosa Gregory Stanton Eric Strom John Swan David Van Cleaf Rick Vaughan Tony Walsh Eric Ziegler
Bass
B. J. Albright Gregg Bennett Rex Beyer John Burch Joseph Cappiello Donald Croxton Roubik Danelian Jerry Day Richard Ferguson James Ficke Felix Fidelibus Stephen V. Fuller Scott Hindley Terry Hirsh Bradley Johnson Donald Kasischke Jim Lopresti Kevin Mahoney Tom Malone Alan McKnight Rodrick Minnis Jason Pitt John Puig Harold Rodriguez Bob Rose
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Charlie Siegel Donald Small Kewan Smith Don Tomasello Michael Valdez Steven Van Wie Charlie Walter Aubrey Willams Tim Yarbrough In Memoriam: Bob Blount George Brown Gary Corbitt Greg Futchi John Hohl Ray King Al LaMorges John Murrow Thomas O’Bryant Elvin Ruiz Pat Seddon Non-singing Members Philip Morris James Smith
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Pat Seddon In Memoriam
She stood out like a ray of light A lovely, perfectly coiffed halo of white hair, sparkling eyes and a smile that instantly expressed unusual kindness and caring. Pat Seddon was an avid arts lover and supporter who was a part of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida family since the Chorus’s very first season. She was a donor, an usher, a board member and a cherished friend. On November 4, Pat passed away unexpectedly. We remember her life and her time with us with great love. Before moving to Florida, Pat lived in Minnesota. However, delivering mail in wintery Minnesota and driving icy roads in 40 below weather wasn’t the ideal job. So, Pat made the decision to move to Florida in 1959. Once here, she met and married Walt Seddon. She worked with him as bookkeeper at Sedco Marine. During her time with the company, she watched the building of Rockie Ioka’s first race boat, the Benihana, as well as a wooden replica of a Baltimore Clipper that still sails the Bahamian waters. Pat started working at Designer Discount Fabrics in 1987, where she enjoyed working with so many interesting people. Pat is well-known in the area as an ardent fan of the arts who gives an abundance of her time volunteering for various arts organizations. She first watched the men of the chorus while ushering at the Broward Center. However, she really started to understand GMCSF’s goals through their performances at the Sunshine Cathedral. Pat once commented, “With all they do…not just their great concerts, but all the community projects…the Chorus has really made their mission of ‘Opening minds and changing hearts’ come true.” Pat joined the GMCSF Board four years ago and was an active volunteer and fundraiser. For many years, Chorus members and audiences have enjoyed watching Pat take the podium and conduct the men of the Chorus, an opportunity she secured in the live auction at the Chorus’s annual fundraising brunch. Pat absolutely loved the men of the Chorus. She was a rare and caring spirit, and we sing in her memory with great affection. It is our belief she lives on in our music and our words.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
HELP MAKE THE MUSIC POSSIBLE
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA CHORAL SOCIETY The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida is in its 10th season, and we are reaching more people than ever with our messages of love and inclusion. Our supporters are a vital part of our efforts and together we are building a better future for all people. See below for information on levels of giving and how to make your tax-deductible contribution. Join us today on our journey to make your community a better place through the power of music.
Levels of Giving and Benefits
We welcome support at all levels and are pleased to list donors in the following categories on our website and in our concert program books. Friend (up to $99) - Program and website listing Supporter ($100 to $249) - Program and website listing Patron ($250 to $499) - Program and website listing Benefactor ($500 to $999) ▪ Concierge ticket service ▪ Program and website listing
The GMCSF Conductor’s Circle
Conductor’s Circle donors form the foundation for the future growth and financial stability of the Chorus. With annual support totaling $1,000 or more, you reap additional exclusive benefits including invitations to special events and opportunities to mingle with our singers and guest artists. We are excited to present an expanded suite of exclusive benefits for our Conductor’s Circle donors. These gifts are an investment in our future, fostering artistic excellence and guaranteeing that the voices of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will be heard in the years to come. Stakeholder ($1,000 to $1,499): ▪ Concierge ticket service ▪ Program and website listing ▪ Invitation to Conductors Circle concert receptions ▪ GMCSF Conductor’s Circle Newsletter ▪ Priority access to Season Subscriptions & the best seats for the season ▪ Cost of Season Subscription added to your level of recognition Director ($1,500 to $2,499) above benefits, plus: ▪ Invitation to one concert rehearsal and wine reception ▪ VIP parking at Sunshine Cathedral Producer ($2,500 to $4,999) above benefits, plus: ▪ Member for a Moment: Invitation to sit among the Chorus members for a rehearsal ▪ Invitation to the Chorus’s End-of-the-Year Dinner
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
HELP MAKE THE MUSIC POSSIBLE Diva ($5,000 to $9,999) above benefits plus: ▪ A private performance by a soloist* ▪ Invitation to join the Chorus on their weekend rehearsal retreat ▪ Invitation to join the Chorus for their trip to the 2020 GALA Festival in Minneapolis** *Must be scheduled 60 days in advance and is subject to member availability **Benefit reflects only an invitation. The costs of attendance and participation are at the donor’s expense.
Composer ($10,000 to $19,999) above benefits, plus: ▪ One private performance by Tropical Wave* ▪ Private VIP dinner with Artistic Director and Executive Director ▪ Acknowledgement from stage ▪ Featured donor e-blast once a season *90-day notice required. Subject to availability of members to participate
Maestro ($20,000 plus) above benefits, plus: ▪ Photo and biography in program at least once a season ▪ Donor highlight placement on GMCSF website for three months ▪ Social media shout-out
Naming Opportunities* Available!
Tie your annual giving to a naming opportunity andt add impact and visibility to your giving! Your name will be included in the production credits for each program book. Below are some examples of important needs for the Chorus you can directly support:
▪ Maestro’s Chair: $10,000 for the Season ▪ Hard Rock Guest Artist: $10,000 ▪ 10th Anniversary Programming: $5,000 ▪ Tropical Wave for a Full Season: $5,000 ▪ Commissioning Fee for Unbreakable: $3,500 ▪ Member Refreshments (Rehearsals and Backstage): $3,000 for the Full Season ▪ Steinway Piano for Holidays at Hard Rock Live: $2,500 ▪ Artist Fee for Unbreakable and Homecoming: $2,000 Each ▪ Production Equipment & Materials: $1,500 per Concert ▪ Costumes & Wardrobe: $1,000 per Concert ▪ Outreach Performances: $1,000 per Concert ▪ Sheet Music: $500 per Concert
*Naming opportunities are a fee for visibility and do not underwrite the full cost/expense of the items listed.
Giving is Easy!
You can donate easily by going online at www.gmcsf.org or by contacting Mark Kent at mkent@gmcsf.org or 954-763-2266 x109. Don’t see something that resonates with you? Let’s chat and find the naming opportunity that is the right fit for you!
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
DONORS & SPONSORS MAESTRO ($20,000 Plus) Douglas Pew & Donald Croxton COMPOSER ($10,000 to $19,999) Hamish’s Fund at Our Fund Gregg Kurek & The George V. Brown III Memorial Fund Paul Rolli & Bennett Quade DIVA ($5,000 to $9,999) Fred Boykin & Jack Killen William Elliott & David Bacher Gerald O. Kennedy & Paul Smith George “Dan” Prigmore & Marcia Hayes Kerry Waldee & Joe Fletcher The Windhover Foundation PRODUCER ($2,500 to $4,999) Anonymous Dana Banker Mark Benson & Robert Benson Christopher Chouinard Kenneth I. Flick & D.C. Allen Stephen V. Fuller & Christof Catlin Tyler F. Healis Mark B. Kent & Kevin Daft Henry Olivas-Guido Mimi C. Pink Harold Rodriguez Bud Russell Patricia L. Seddon Harvey Shapiro & Mike Dager William V. Spinosa & Frank Molano Donald J. Tomasello & Robert Pagano Michael Valdez & Jeffrey Thomas Rick Vaughan & Walter Sherman DIRECTOR ($1,500 to $2,499) Steven Begert-Clark & Tom Begert-Clark Douglas Ferguson Sidney Goldenberg Paul Hoff & Charles Poole John Klomp & Joe Brannen Ron J. MacDonald Paul & Gus Posse-Abad Harvey Shapiro & Mike Dager Murry Stegelmann STAKEHOLDERS ($1,000 to $1,499) Anthony Alacca Anonymous Gregg Bennett Louis Benevento & Patrick Duffy Jaye Chen & Peter Brown
AS OF 11/25/2019 Philip N. Dearborn Dustin Ewing Glenn Goldberg Paul Guariglia Peter Hardy-Smith Fredrick E. Heal, III William Jaume & David Schrock Steven F. Lutz Todd Masnicki Thaddeus Nifong Steve Oden & Mike Greer Mimi C. Pink David Sarama & Daniel Drennen Larry Small & David Burba Greg Stanton & Lee Sider James Stepp & Peter Zimmer Morris Umansky BENEFACTOR ($500—$999) BJ Albright & Philip Morris Rex Beyer & Nick Meyer Mark Blaylock Joe Cannon Scott Clearwater & Chris Ambs Tony Corrente & Doug Leib Michael Ekman Martha Fleishman Michael Foley Dr. R. Wayne Gibson in honor of Aubrey Williams James Graham & Dan Campeau Marc Grossman Bradley Johnson & Wayne Laubscher Steven P. Kavanaugh Mark Kight & Robert Morrow Jeffrey Kozlow in honor of Bob Blount Jeffery Lammers & James A. McLaughlin Regina P. Laubscher Judith Paul Amina Perunko Dr. Runar Polluson & Robert Pinsky Gary Sambol Larry Scott & Frank Zurek Constance St. Jean Christopher Toth Tony Walsh & Richard Johnson Preston Watkins & Phil Cross Steven Welch Ellen and Bob Yerman, with Love to Hayden & Erin Eric Ziegler & Ross Kemp
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
DONORS & SPONSORS PATRON ($250 to $499) GMCSF Baritone Section William Beck & Peter Flyzik Bryon Bowlby & Robert Baldwin Harold Dioquino Carl Jennings & Larry Gammons Robert James Graham, PA David Jobin & Angel Burgos Michael Mendillo Melanie Merriman Fred Schieferstein & Kenneth Shanahan Steven Wilson SUPPORTER ($100 to $249) GMCSF Bass Section J. B. Ayers, III & Paul Dobrea Charles Beavin Kimber Billow & Charles Griffeth Michael Brison William Britt Paul Bryers & Christopher Ryan Holly Davis & Kay Hannah Ginny Dixon & Gisella Oliveira George E. Douglas & Ray Wieder Marcus Flanagan Peter Flyzik & William Beck Cary Giacalone & Kris Jarman Jerry Glatzer Peter Grossman & Lawrence Timmins Doris Herrera-Pol Ron Hess Fred Humphreys & Thomas Marten Craig Johnston & James P. Stellas Lee Kaplan Richard Kimmel & David Watt Diane & Gary Kurek John Lalley & Dan Rodriguez Robert W. Lee Robert Lindsay James McBride & Jack Harold Vivian McElveen Lance Miller & Dorothy Correnti Trudy & Tom Miller Ricky Morales Michael Mulcahy & Christopher Seidel Kim Nickelson Sguros & Louis Peter Harold Noble & Douglas Peachey Jorge Ornelas, Jr. Paul Petrella Maria Portiall-Feigenbaum Charles Robinson Kenny Russell Laurie Schecter Tedd Simmons & Tavo Vega
Marlene & Robert Smith James Van Stewart Ralph Stivali George Stoutin & David Heilman GMCSF Tenor 1 Section Stephen Thayer Steven Visano & Vaughn Brison Sharon & Edwin Wigutoff Ray Willey Gregory Wright Howard Yopp FRIEND ($0 to $99) AmazonSmile Foundation Michael Balaban & David Paulin David Balas & James Sellman Charles Bell Rodney Bolton & Mark Lubold, Jr. Edward Breeden Carla Buonanno-Stein & Martin Stein Robert Caruso Martin Childers Nancy Ching Charles Colletta in Honor of Christopher Chouinard Dr. Daniel Cotlowitz in Honor of Doug Pew & Don Croxton Mary Dickens Mary Dirubbo in honor of Christopher Chouinard Brenda Dunn Irma Emery James V. Ficke Marcus Flanagan Floyd Flemming Daniel Fountaine Holly Sherlock Ganji Ann Garfinkel Edmund Gerhardt & Anthony Petronella Mark D. Gordon Michael Guglielmo Polly Hemstock William Hines Matthew Hoover Row Iliescu Jeffrey Janski & Robert Starman Hillary Josephs William Kramek Barbara & Joel Kucharski Karen Marie Kucharski Normand J. Leclair David R. Littlefield Donald Locascio & Robert Murphy Steven E. Masterson & Timothy J.
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
DONORS & SPONSORS Spooner Max Matteson & Bud Baty Valen Mayland Betty & Peter Meyerink Joseph A. Moschiano Peter Oberdorf Judith Oberholtzer James O’Keeffe Harvey Own & Bill Kreidler Richard Paul Dennis Robbins Daniel Roemmelt William Sandrik & Henry Smith Sharon Scales S.J. Shlafer Jenna Scolaro David Seed
Daniel Selvin John Spazzarini David Taratuta & Tom McCutchen Ansel Thompson James Tiernan Lorraine and James Veldman Umberto Veltri Rick Walter Boggy Wang
ARE YOU A FRIEND OF FELICIA?
Want to give on a monthly basis? Sign up to become a Friend of Felicia! Felicia the Flamingo is our beloved mascot, and she is bringing all her friends together in a flock of support for GMCSF. Felicia knows charitable, taxdeductible donations are crucial to the success of GMCSF. Felicia makes giving easy through automatic monthly payments charged to your credit or debit card. Contact Mark B. Kent, Executive Director for more information. (954) 763-2266 x. 109 mkent@gmcsf.org
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
DONORS & SPONSORS
GOVERNMENT FUNDING PROVIDED BY
CORPORATE VOICES GMCSF is grateful for the financial support from the following businesses
FOUNDATION SUPPORT Programming and operations generously supported by the following foundations
GULFSTREAM PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
PEGASUS SOCIETY
WE’VE COME SO FAR IN OUR LIFETIME. We Need You To Keep the Momentum Going!
Many of us still recall the days when television would never show two people of the same gender share a kiss…or even hold hands. Now we live in a time when the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of marriage equality. We’ve accomplished so much, yet there is so much more to do. Since the late 1970s the LGBTQ+ Choral Movement has been a crucial tool for advocacy, unity and education. The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida is proud to continue this legacy through our music. We are proud to serve as cultural ambassadors for our community and provide a voice for those who do not have one. Help ensure this work continues by joining The Pegasus Society planned giving program. By including the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida in your estate planning, you can help sustain our organization and keep our voices carrying long into the future. We invite you to join the members of The Pegasus Society today. Contact us at: (954) 763-2266 ext. 109 or mkent@gmcsf.org for more information.
The Pegasus Society John Burch Bob Pagano Charles Nicoll Don Tomasello Donald Croxton Doug Pew George Kling Mitchell Grant
Gerald Kennedy Greg Futchi (of blessed memory) Fred Boykin Jack Killen John Hohl (of blessed memory) Marty Kaplan Christopher Chouinard Paul Smith
Peter Kimball Robert Beardsley Mark & Robert Benson Ralph Stivali, Al LaMorges & George V. Brown, III (of blessed memory)
“ Being a member of The Pegasus Society is important to us because we believe and support the mission of the Chorus to open hearts and change minds and because music has always been a very important part of our lives.” —Don Tomasello and Bob Pagano
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
GEORGE BROWN MEMORIAL FUND
IN LOVING MEMORY George V. Brown, III At this concert we celebrate the life of departed Chorus member, George Brown. George became a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida in March of 2016 and has been a cherished and inspiring presence. We are grateful to George’s husband, Gregg Kurek and his many friends and family members who have created the George V. Brown, III Memorial Fund. A native of Brookline, Massachusetts, George graduated from Brookline High School an Harvard College where he was an active member of the Harvard Glee Club. Upon graduation he joined the John Hancock Insurance Company as a mortgage loan analyst. His accomplishments at John Hancock included the financing of the property which became the City of Aventura, FL, the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. and the John Hancock building in Chicago. In 1969 he joined the Ford Motor Company from which he retired in 1993 as Executive Director-Financial Services Group. During his tenure at Ford, he was instrumental in acquiring First Nationwide Financial Corp., U.S. Leasing, and the Associates Finance Company. He also spearheaded the financing of the Renaissance Center in Detroit. Post retirement, he became involved in community service in Douglas/Saugatuck Michigan. George. Also studied painting, and in 1999 he opened the Lion House Studio in Douglas. Throughout his life, music was his passion, and he sang in many Gilbert and Sullivan productions in community theatre as well as in local choruses. Upon moving to Florida as a full-time resident, he was able to fulfill a dream of joining the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida as a Tenor 1.
The George V. Brown, III Memorial Fund Gregg Kurek and the estate of George V. Brown, III
B.J. Albright & Phillip Morris David Balas & Jim Sellman Rex Beyer & Nick Meyer Jay Chen & Peter Brown Holly Davis & Kay Hanna Floyd Fleming Carl Jennings & Larry Gammons Craig Johnston & James Stellas Richard Kimmel & David Watt Barbara & Joel Kucharski Karen Kucharski Diane & Gary Kurek John Lalley & Dan Rodriguez
Max Matteson & Bud Baty James McBride & Jack Harold Betty & Peter Meyerink Trudy & Tom Miller Judith Oberholtzer Timothy Spooner & Steven Masterson Christopher Seidel & Mike Mulcahy Marlene & Robert Smith George Stoutin & David Heilman David Taratuta & Tom McCutchen Lorraine & James Veidman
THE GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF SOUTH FLORIDA
A Broward County Designated Major Cultural Institution
www.browardcenter.org 954-462-0222 www.sota.org 954-335-7002
The Year of the Maestro
Tues, Oct. 15, 2019 • 7:45 pm Argentine Tribute to Hispanic & Italian Heritage Month Ana Rodriguez, piano
Tues, Dec. 3, 2019 • 7:45 pm Haller Foundation Matinee, Sun, Dec. 8, 2019 • 2:00 pm Cirque Holidays
Saturday Haller Foundation Matinee Feb. 29, 2020 • 2:00 pm Pops and Jazz
Tuesday Feb. 18, 2020 • 7:45 pm Tribute to The Ladies of Swing Lisanne Lyons Jazz Trio
Tues, Jan. 7, 2020 • 7:45 pm Celebrate the Classics! Gareth Johnson, violin
Tuesday Mar. 10, 2020 • 7:45 pm Beethoven to Bluegrass Beethoven’s 250th! The Lubben Brothers
Tuesday Apr. 7, 2020 • 7:45 pm Four Pianos ~ Four Concertos
OctOber 27, 2019 Yedra-ChruszCz duo
The Haller Foundation
February 9, 2020 sota Con Brio string Quartet
SONeSta FOrt LauderdaLe beach SuNdayS at 5:30 pm BEST by Fort Lauderdale Magazine
NOvember 24, 2019 BroadwaY & Familiar ClassiCs JaN. 12, 2020 roBerto Cani string trio
march 15, 2020 Jazz trio with speCial guest, duaiV
Cellist and Visual artist
Diversity makes for a better cocktail party.
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From Beethoven to Broadway, Bach to Bernstein, The Chorus performs works by the full range of beloved classical and contemporary composers.
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