Founded in 1983, the Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus (SVGMC) is only weeks away from opening its forty-second season with "Reflections: Voices of Resilience." Presented at Santa Clara University's Music Recital Hall with three performances March 28-30, "Reflections" stands apart from regular programming at SVGMC, as the set list has been entirely curated by its singers.
With 70 members spanning creed, gender orientation, race, and age, the setlist is eclectic. Numbers include "月亮代表我的心," or "The Moon Represents My Heart," performed in Taiwanese, and a classic medley popularized by Mariah Carey.
As part of the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA, pronounced "Gay-la") chorus circuit, SVGMC is part of a legacy that is not only a national sensation but joins arms with queer choruses worldwide.
As many good gay things start, the first GALA chorus was founded in San Francisco in 1979 by Jon Reed Sims.
In Bay Area Reporter's interview with SVGMC's Marketing Director Wilson Alexander Aguilar, now a member of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, the performance was described as nothing short of necessary.
"More than ever, given the current political climate and the fact that queer people's rights are getting dismantled and taken away, this concert is the perfect response to that."
For many Queer Americans living under the Trump administration, with its inseparability from the encroachment on our liberties, there are certain eerie parallels brought to the forefront of our minds. Times are entirely more dire for those of us not fortunate to live in liberal hubs or with access to supportive communities.
For SVGMC, Aguilar stressed this time is no different from when the chorus was under duress in the past.
"We have been around for a long time now and have always risen as a community to address current situations," he said. "We were there for the AIDS crisis. We've been there for the fight for marriage equality, and we were there during COVID."
He continued, "It's such a personal concert, especially with our singers selecting the music. Whether the song was chosen out of anguish, out of feelings of fear, it is all a reflection on lost love."
Vocal styles
The concert honors these feelings with ballads, show tunes, and, most importantly, joy. The show displays a vast spectrum of technique and vocal style, not skipping out on featuring songs from queer icons like Kylie Minogue that have touched the lives of those who will be singing.
GALA choruses around the country are known for their showmanship and quality performances, but it is always the community that matters the most. The camaraderie these choruses extend is more than just a weekly rehearsal. It's a lifeline.
Aguilar shared a moving experience about his time as a member of the SVGMC.
"We had a chorus member who sought asylum in the United States, leaving the country where he was born," he said. "A country where he was being persecuted for being gay. When joining he didn't speak English. In this major transition, he found community with other queer people. There was something about music that created a bridge. Music is our unifier."
In correspondence with SVGMC's Artistic Director Corey Liggans Miller, the power and prevalence of the performance was only echoed.
"'Reflections' is going to be truly beautiful, because each song holds a special place in the heart of our members. It is truly a reflection of who and what we stand for as a chorus."
Miller added, "The chorus has really become a family for me. I joined the group in 2017 to have a performance outlet, since then I've only become more and more involved. I have seen people find their chosen family. I've seen what having a space to just be yourself can mean to somebody."
Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus, 'Reflections: Voices of Resilience' $25-$35, March 28-30, Santa Clara University Music Recital Hall, 114 Franklin St.
www.svgmc.org
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