With the appointment of a new Artistic Director, and a new Executive Director, Austin Gay Men’s Chorus is stepping up to a new level of professionalism. They filled the stage at The Baptist Church at 9th and Trinity Streets for two rousing performances this past weekend.
Addressing the near-capacity audience, Exec Director Donovan Jones (pictured below) said “I come here from Columbus, Ohio, where I recently served as the executive director. This is actually my fourth gay men’s chorus. I have sung with the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus and the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus (where I met my husband). I’ve visited Austin a lot and I have lots of close friends and family here.”
Jones emphasized the cost of maintaining such a chorus, especially amidst the current political climate. In February, a Pride show featuring the Gay Man’s Chorus of Washington at the Kennedy Center was cancelled. Mark McCrary, exec director of the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, was quoted as saying “The optics of all this just look very bad. We’re beginning to see a trend toward silencing the queer community.” McCrary communicates with other choir executive directors, many of whom have started to worry for the safety of their members. This danger was highlighted at the show in Austin, where a tribute was offered to chorus member Edward Espino. On March 16 this year, he was murdered in Austin.
Even the music was drafted to deliver a stark warning. In the song Inkosi Namadla, the translated lyrics say “Enemies surround us/They rise against us.” This was one of several eclectic selections on the 16-song menu. In addition to this African song, with its uptempo vibrancy following a slow and symbolic opening, another example of global diversity was a Venezuelan Plea for Life that highlighted the hungry, thirsty and sick appealing for help.
Two songs from America’s past achieve new purchase in 2025. The 1964 Bob Dylan tune The Times They are A-Changin’ and the 1970 Simon & Garfunkel song Bridge Over Troubled Water both evoked a sense of unease at the concert. Keith Hale, pictured here, delivered an empathic solo in the Dylan number.
The song Rain On Me seemed to encapsulate the best of the Chorus. A select group danced (lead photo) while the chorus belted out the lyrics of this Lady Gaga/Ariana Grande hit. One person online a few years ago explained what it meant. “To me it’s about not bottling up your emotions and trauma you’ve been through and the rain represents tears/crying and the catharsis it can bring after bottling up emotions so long.” Overall, one got the impression many of the Chorus selections were indeed cathartic, both for the chorus members and many of the audience.
I asked one member of the audience for his evaluation. “The last time I saw the Chorus perform was in 2019 and I can say that it’s a total improvement. The group has doubled in size, the performance is very professional (like a Broadway production), the sound is amazing. I’m really enjoying the show.” He identified the selection United in Purpose as his favourite. “I liked the rhythm and the voices.”
The Chorus has to deal with its own success. From its founding in 1989, the choral strength has grown to some 150 people, which is clearly the max that can be safely put on risers at the church. I asked the Treasurer, Matt Smith, about this. “We at the point of outgrowing our space. In the short-term one of the things we will be doing is ways we can make this space work for us or, if it doesn’t, figuring out where our space will be.”
Visually, the two halves of the concert were in stark contrast with one another. The liturgical-style outfits in the first half (black with different-coloured scarves to denote those who are immigrants, married, or are dealing with issues such as health and financial) were replaced by all-white clothes in the second half (see photo). Even the energetic Artistic Director, Dr. Thomas Rinn (Texas State University) doffed black (pictured below) for white.
“For decades,” Rinn said “gay men’s courses have served as vital spaces of the joy and expression for LGBT plus individuals. As you have heard today in our performance, agency continues that tradition, while we simultaneously worked to expand it. Though we carry the historical labor of gay men’s chorus, we are proudly inclusive. Our members do not need to identify as gay or as men to sing with us. What we do offer is a safe, welcoming space for everyone who shares in our values and in our music.
“Creating and protecting these spaces is never really over. Our community is under attack through threats to civil rights; attempts to silence artistic voices; in efforts to erase our schools. Even here in Austin, this concert received homophobic comments on social media. It’s disheartening, but it’s also why we are here.
“It’s why we continue to sing. It’s why we gather in these spaces. It’s why our presence and your support matters so deeply to us. We thank you not only for attending today, but for standing with us.”
Keep in contact thru their website: www.atxgmc.org
The annual Holiday concert will be Dec 6-8, 2025
all photos by C Cunningham