Two hundred and fifty gorgeous gals and guys got together in Melbourne last month for a weekend of performance and partying. Melbourne’s Midsumma festival this year included a major concert by most of the gay choirs in Australia and New Zealand, with associated rehearsals, workshops and social events, planned and unplanned.
The concert, on a Sunday afternoon in the Melbourne Town Hall, drew a big audience and GALS’ performance was one of our best ever. As we ran around backstage afterwards going: ‘Oh, God, a standing ovation,’ the best was yet to come. The last item was a performance of two songs by the combined choirs, conducted by Jonathon Welch, who has previously led gay choirs at the Gay Games opening ceremonies in Sydney, Montreal and Chicago.
The after-party was awesome. So was the before-party, for that matter, even though it was 39 degrees outside and the air-conditioning broke down half an hour into the evening. This was a chance for small group performances and comedy pieces, in which GALS was quite a feature.
Best of all the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus – and there are lots of them – will be coming to Perth in October this year for a joint concert with GALS and to participate in our Pride month events.
