The Gay and Lesbian Singers are an open community choir, welcoming members of the GLBTI community who enjoy music and singing. There are no auditions, as the choir includes many people with little previous musical or performance experience, although there is a core group of musicians/singers who read music and have experience on stage. Our conductor, Frances O’Neill, is a jazz and classical graduate and wonderful singer herself, who conducts and performs regularly around Perth. GALS holds two public concerts a year and performs at many events in the community. Not everyone realises that an effective choir member does not need to have a great solo voice; commitment and a willingness to have a go are the really important qualities.
GALS was founded in 1993 by a small group of lesbians who had been singing in a women’s choir but were inspired to bring the idea of a choir to the gay community. From that group, the choir has grown and developed over the years, sometimes boasting around 40 members, sometimes as few as 15.
Anyone who identifies as GLBTI is welcome to join the choir. Occasionally we are approached by non-gay people who want to join. This happens rarely but when it does the individuals involved have been strongly supportive of gay rights and proud to stand up publicly as members of a gay choir. GALS has accepted straight members into the choir on this basis and they have always proved remarkably rich in the talent and energy they have to offer.
GALS can truly say of themselves that they are a group of people who meet on the basis of their love for music and singing but, more than that, a group of people who care about, like and support each other. No matter how awful you might feel or how bad your week has been, you leave each practice feeling great, feeling connected to the rest of the group and knowing that you are solidly supported in all aspects of your life. We party together, travel to various places to perform, run all aspects of choir business democratically, sharing responsibility for deciding what to sing and where and when to perform as a group, where everyone’s views are equal and respected.
For our next project, GALS will present a concert celebrating the music of gay songwriters entitled ‘Divas and Dy-kons’. The concert celebrates artists who have been creative leaders in all genres of music over the last 100 years: Cole Porter, Queen, KD Lang, the list is long. So come along to the Bakery (Artrage building) at 223-239 James St, Northbridge on Friday May 4 at 7.15 pm. Tickets ($15, $10 concession) can be purchased at the door or pre-booked and held for you by phoning Joanna or Robin.
Regular GALS rehearsals are on Thursday nights at the North Perth Town Hall, View St, North Perth.
Contact: Robin (94730661) Joanna (92942379)
Postal address: PO Box 285 North Perth WA 6006
web address: www.galswa.org.au
email: members@galswa.org.au
GALS Community Group Profile by GALS member Joanna Hall
