Preparations have begun for the Fa-la-la Christmas concert, scheduled to take place Dec. 8, and members of the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus say it will be another opportunity for the group to contribute to the gay community through its music.
The Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus, founded by conductor Gordon Johnston in 1986, is a local, independent, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to perform quality choral music and to contribute to the gay community.
The group performs at various community events, including the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life and World AIDS Day, in addition to their two annual concerts.
Musical Director Joseph McEachren says this year’s Christmas concert will have something for everybody.
“We don’t program our shows where it’s one particular work, like some of the other ensembles might do throughout the city,” he says.
He says tradition is at the forefront, but each year the OGMC selects a diverse repertoire that appeals to both its patronage and membership.
The 28th annual concert will include Yuletide Fires, by late Canadian composer and choral conductor Diane Loomer, Quebecois folk songs Les Cloches du Hameau, and le 23 decembre, as well as more upbeat numbers, such as the jazz piece Let it Ring, Let it Swing, Let it Snow.
McEachren says le 23 decembre has been a source of laughs at recent rehearsals.
“There’s just so many words to pack into so many notes, and so it’s spitting out all the words in rhythm which has caused a bit of fun,” he says.
McEachren says the song choices reflect the varying skill levels of the singers in the group.
“We do voice placement only, which helps the singer know which part that their voice is best suited to and we go from there,” he says. “We have a range of musicians, from people who have a grand amount of exposure to music to those who can’t read music.”
Chorus member Jay Koornstra, executive director of the HIV/AIDS residence Bruce House Ottawa, says he couldn’t read music when he joined, but his participation was a way to improve.
“All they were interested in at the time was whether you could carry a tune, and they would try to help develop your singing voice after that,” he says.
President Christopher Natuik says the goal is to make the Chorus accessible to any gay man who wants to join.
“The important benefit is to come and have them sing with us and feel that sense of community,” he says.
The show will also feature a remembrance piece for those who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS, as does every concert put on by the OGMC.
“We do a candle-lighting ceremony to pay tribute and honour those people within the community who have really made a difference, who have struggled with that particular disease, and unfortunately have lost their battle,” says McEachren.
Natuik says the remembrance piece is an important opportunity for reflection.
“It’s a chance to reconnect with those around us that don’t necessarily have it as easily as we do, that we’ve lost throughout the year, that kind of thing,” he says. “It’s usually a very emotional piece of the concert.”
McEachren says these performances demonstrate the choir’s power as an organization in the gay community.
“I think for those who are musically inclined, this ensemble really has a gift,” he says. “It transcends a lot of different barriers, and is able to communicate through the power of music by send messaging where other groups wouldn’t be able to do so.”