History

The First Year

The formal debut of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus took place in the Great Hall of Cooper Union on December 19, 1980. One year later the Chorus was performing in Carnegie Hall. Prior to these historic events there were fifteen months of early organization and development. Here is a summary of that significant period in the history of the Chorus.

In July of 1979, Edward Dryer Weaver, a former member of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, took it upon himself to foster the creation of a gay men's chorus in New York City. After consultation with the National Gay Task Force, he connected with Jonathan Fey, who would serve as the music director, and Bob MacWilliams, who would become the principal source of music donated to the chorus. Edward and Jonathan set up a table in Sheridan Square on August 25th and 26th and on September 1st and 2nd. On September 17, 1979, the New York City Gay Men's Chorus held its first rehearsal at the Washington Square United Methodist Church.

Eighty of the men who had signed up at Edward and Jonathan's table appeared, thus creating the fourth gay men's chorus in the country, having been preceded by San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Dues were set by the membership at $2 per man per rehearsal. However, conflicts arose, membership declined to approximately twenty men, and in November, Edward withdrew from the fledgling organization, retaining the right to use the name, "New York City Gay Men's Chorus," and began organizing another gay men's chorus in the city. The remaining members of the original group gave their first public performance at the Club Baths' annual Christmas Party. Soon thereafter the members voted to change their name to the "Big Apple Gay Men's Chorus."

The Big Apple Gay Men's Chorus approved its first constitution in January, 1980, and incorporated under the New York State laws for non-profit organizations. The following month the chorus elected its first Board of Directors, and the Board selected Tom Bradley as its chairman. Also in February, the chorus performed at the "Ann Miller Look-Alike Contest," a benefit for the Cherry Grove Arts Project, held at the disco, New York, New York. The Big Apple Gay Men's Chorus gave its official concert debut at the Church of the Beloved Disciple in April. In May they performed for the West Side Discussion Group. On the eve of Gay Pride Day in June, they gave a performance for Dignity, NY, and the following day marched in the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade up Fifth Avenue.

During this period, the Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Jonathan Fey as the music director, and established a search committee to interview candidates to fill this position, while Don Rock served as interim director. In July, the Big Apple Gay Men's Chorus gave a performance for the Greater Gotham Business Council at the Ice Palace. During the same period, the second New York City Gay Men's Chorus emerged. Its first rehearsal was held on January 10, 1980, at the Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (the Gay Synagogue). Mario Gonzaález served as interim director. The chorus gave its first public performance in February at the 200 Club, for the MCAANY Softball Awards Banquet. Seventeen men sang that evening, and among the selections was "New York, New York." In March they sang for the Greater Gotham Business Council at the Ice Palace.

During the rehearsal in March, first tenor Gary Miller volunteered to lead the tenor sectional. Soon thereafter, at the invitation of the chorus, Gary agreed to become its permanent director, and conducted the chorus for the first time in public after Friday night services at the Gay Synagogue on May 16, 1980. In June this chorus performed for the East Village Lesbian and Gay Neighbors, as well as for the MCAANY All Star/Police Softball Game. On Gay Pride Day they also participated in the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade up Fifth Avenue. In July, the chorus sang for both the Cooper Union Street Fair and, with the Gay Community Marching Band, for the Cherry Grove Arts Project on Fire Island.

In June, 1980, Gary Miller heard about the Big Apple Gay Men's Chorus' search for a new music director. He announced to the New York City Gay Men's Chorus that he had applied for the position with the recommendation that both choruses merge. In July, Gary Miller and Tom Bradley made preliminary contacts concerning the merger. A merger committee was created, consisting of eleven members (five from each chorus and the eleventh, a member of both choruses). At separate rehearsals in August, each chorus voted approval of the merger under the constitution and incorporation papers of the Big Apple Gay Men's Chorus.

On August 13, 1980, a newly created Board of Directors made the merger official by unanimous resolution, and on September 15th the combined Chorus of sixty men voted to change the incorporation papers to read "New York City Gay Men's Chorus." On October 6th the membership voted to adopt the Big Apple Gay Men's Chorus logo as its own.

In September 1980, the "new" New York City Gay Men's Chorus sang in its first radio broadcast over WBAI, and gave its first public performance on September 29th at the Columbus Avenue Street Fair. On November 22nd, the Chorus held its first benefit at "The Spike," raising $2,000. The Chorus also sang for the Greater Gotham Business Council's "Gay Market" on November 22nd and 23rd. At these two events both the official gray and burgundy T-shirts and banner had their debut.

Some of Our Best Moments

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Click on these links for more information

• A Time Line History of Big Apple Performing Arts
• Our History of Commissions and Premieres
• Our Roster of Guest Artists