Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Valdez.
In September of 2010, circumstances gathered a group of men who wanted to create quality music, encourage social change and make South Florida a better place for LGBTQ people. A hat was passed and they scraped together the first couple of hundred dollars to defray the 501c3 incorporation startup.
That December a group of forty or so presented two sold-out performances at the Walt Lawrence and Steven Lewis Center for the Performing Arts at Sunshine Cathedral. With some ups and downs in the years since, The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida has grown to a Roster of 125 men, becoming the largest gay men’s chorus in the southeast. The GMCSF has presented three successful concert cycles each year since.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida embraces its Mission – Inspiring through Song. As the whole, they embody their Vision – To inspire Audiences, Move Spirits, Open Minds and Change Hearts – through the Quality of their Music, the Power of their Words and the sight of their Joy. The Chorus strives to live its Values – Passion, Mutual Respect, Integrity, Dedication and artistic Excellence; oddly recognized as an acronym for PRIDE.
The GMCSF has been determined to give back to the community that has supported and nurtured its success and growth during the last seven plus years.
That involvement includes an annual Teddy Bear Drive for the Broward County Hospitals Pediatric Auxiliary [ Bears for sick KIDS ], walking and raising money at the Florida AIDS Walk, joined in the Caps of Love Project to provide wheelchairs to disabled children and has even chaperoned at gay youth proms in addition to donating time and talent to a host of other charitable endeavors in South Florida.
Chorus members continue to support the Poverello Food Bank, Kids in Distress, Broward House, Latino Salud, Sunserve, and many other organizations. Each season, members of the Chorus take on community volunteer projects to support their fellow non-profits. Beyond song, the Chorus also brings helping hands to the community!
A major concentration toward Youth Programs is being developed. The – My Story My Song – program, a school performance with a question and answer talk back session soon to be an integral part of the Ensembles outreach. The reoccurring, Young Conductor Award sponsored by generous donor Howard Kaplan is geared toward further educating young gay students of music.
On stage and in the community, the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida is an artistic force committed to social good.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road of a gay chorus is never smooth. Aside from the standard concert cycles and all that is involved in accomplishing that, raising the money to produce these concerts is also hard work and mandatory to the process.
Creating a very structured organization from the start has allowed an easier go of things. The team expands well beyond the men on stage. The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida operates transparently through a body that includes a Board of Directors, a member-driven Leadership Team, and an Artistic Director. Staff includes an Executive Director and a Director of Development.
It is a continuous challenge to keep the men of the chorus on stage and in the community.
Please tell us about The Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida.
Some facts relevant to this section are included in previous comments.
We are beyond proud of the gains we’ve made collectively over our short 7+ year tenure. The talent and performance level of the men has followed suit. Growing into the largest gay chorus in the Southeast United States is a major accomplishment.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My first piano… a used mahogany upright… a Christmas present – age 8.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2040 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 218
Wilton Manors, FL 33305 - Website: www.gmcsf.org
- Phone: 954-763-2266
- Email: info@gmcsf.org
Image Credit:
Ginny Dixon, Jim O’Rourke
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