Austin Gay Men’s Chorus presents ‘Celebrate the Holigays’
The Austin Gay Men’s Chorus is kicking off the holiday season by returning to the stage for its “Celebrate the Holigays” concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 and 4 and at 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th Street in Austin. Tickets, which range from $20 to $45, are available at AustinGayMensChorus.org.
An array of musical styles, ranging from Broadway to Gospel, will fill St. Martin’s with holiday spirit during the “Celebrate the Holigays” concert. Artistic Director Daniel Arredondo promises a few surprises, including some of the chorus’s popular video productions.
“During the shutdown, our virtual series kept the chorus together and kept our voices strong,” he said. “We’re excited to finally share some of those songs with a live audience.”
Chorus President Glen Langford said the holiday concert is an ideal time for the chorus to return to the stage after nearly two years. “We can’t wait to reconnect with a live audience and the holidays are the perfect time to do it,” he said. “It’s our gift not just to our audience but also to ourselves.”
COVID protocols in place for Celebrate the Holigays include proof of vaccine and ID for entry. In lieu of vaccine, concert goers can provide a negative COVID-19 test result. Masks will be required at all times.
Austin Gay Men’s Chorus: Initially named the Capital City Men’s Chorus, the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus was inspired by a 1989 visit to Austin by The Names Project. Since then, the chorus has grown significantly from an initial 16 members. Raising their voices in song to change minds, transform lives and build community, the chorus has performed at Carnegie Hall as well as in Houston, Fort Worth, Denver and Montreal as well as several venues in Austin. Guest artists include Tonynominated composer Andrew Lippa, Broadway star Nick Rodriquez, Grammy-nominated mezzo-soprano Rose Taylor, Austin’s cabaret legend Karen Kuykendall, members of the Austin Lyric Opera, the Austin Civic Orchestra and others. The chorus has recorded and released three CDs, performed several times on television and has provided music for such diverse events as the inauguration of Governor Ann Richards, comedienne Margaret Cho’s “Cho Dependent” show, Round Rock Express baseball games and the Geek Bowl Trivia contest. In 2019, the chorus name was changed to the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus to reflect the pride of its members. Currently helmed by Artistic Director Dr. Daniel Arredondo, the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus is the longest operating men’s chorus in Central Texas.
