|
We need you. Now, more than ever
For the past 35 years, the Gateway Men's Chorus has been a crucial lynchpin to the LGBTQIA+ community of St. Louis, providing a space where thousands of LGBTQIA+ individuals have come together for community, camaraderie, and connection through their love of making beautiful, meaningful music.
As we approach the last few months of our 35th anniversary season, we're at the a critical crossroads, and it's apparent that we may not be able to continue operations beyond this year. At this current time, the Gateway Men's Chorus is in dire need of funding. Through extraordinary measures, we managed to keep the doors open throughout the pandemic, kept the organization making music and providing vital community ties when we needed it most. But this came at the expense of our operating reserves and our revenue streams. Since then, we have stretched the proverbial penny as far as it can possibly be stretched, and it's time for us to take drastic and frequent actions in order to keep this organization running through June and beyond. In the past several years, we've seen a drastic downturn in community funding of the chorus. While there are a number of factors, the easiest to note is the ongoing pandemic and its effect on the arts in St. Louis. Covid-19 can be easily seen as a turning point for attendance at our shows, participation in our fundraising activities, numbers of singers that we're fielding on-stage, and the general loss of grant revenues that have generally helped to keep us afloat through the years. Plainly put, without an insurgence of donations, ticket sales, and/or sponsorships, the Gateway Men's Chorus may cease to exist in the near future. And we very much want to continue our mission, we want to continue serving the St. Louis region, and we want to continue making music that tells the stories of the LGBTQIA+ community. Please consider making a gift at this time and helping us sustain our mission, helping us assure our future in St. Louis, and mostly importantly, helping us continue make beautiful music that affirms and uplifts the St. Louis LGBTQIA+ community. |
Our HistoryIn the fall of 1987, an advertisement ran in the Gay and Lesbian News Telegraph seeking men interested in forming St Louis’s first gay chorus. By the spring of 1988, the chorus had grown to 22 men and, under the direction of Michael Cohrs, presented its first concert -- One Voice. With the staging of 1969: A Remembrance of Stonewall, the Gateway Men’s Chorus presented its 90th major concert and concluded its 32nd Anniversary season.
Throughout our first 34 years, the Gateway Men’s Chorus has opened its stage to over 650 singers and performed over 1200 musical works. The chorus has commissioned a number of pieces through the years, including adaptations of poetry standards, Supreme Court speeches, and satirical works. Many of these works have since been performed by choruses throughout the country, carrying the legacy of GMC from coast-to-coast. And, in addition to appearing on stages around St. Louis, the chorus has performed in Kansas City, Denver, Atlanta, New Orleans, Miami, Montreal, San Jose, Tampa, and even once auditioned for America’s Got Talent! |
Our MissionThe mission of the Gateway Men’s Chorus is to affirm and promote gay culture and acceptance through excellence in musical performance and education. To fulfill its mission, the chorus annually presents a three-concert season, performing a breadth of work ranging from classical choral repertoire to Broadway classics, from holiday favorites to iconic LGBT choral anthems, and many of the songs that helped shape our lives. The organization continues to participate in a wide range of special events and community outreach activities throughout the region,including sporting events, Pride, and local fundraisers.
|
Our VisionBy living our mission, the Gateway Men’s Chorus builds a future where no voice can be silenced – one that celebrates inclusion, amplifies the human spirit, and values the arts as essential to the human experience.
|
Our ValuesThe Gateway Men’s Chorus abides by central values that govern how we both operate internally and engage externally with the community as a whole. We value:
|
Annual Reports
31st Season Annual Report | 30th Season Annual Report | 29th Season Annual Report
28th Season Annual Report | 27th Season Annual Report | 26th Season Annual Report
28th Season Annual Report | 27th Season Annual Report | 26th Season Annual Report