Our 2012-2013 concert season covered a full spectrum of choral artistry, as well as offering lots of laughter … all while serving our LGBT-affirming mission. It was, as the season’s theme promised, absoBLOODYlutely amazing!
We kicked off our British theme on the heels of the London Olympics, staging our holiday concert, Reindeer Games, with a very special guest hostess: the Queen! (Ok, it was really Charlotte’s own Roxy C. Moorecox. But she was royally superb!) The concert celebrated holiday favorites interspersed with audience members competing for medals in decidedly non-Olympian events such as Dizzy Diva Runway Walk.
Meaningful and media worthy
The holiday concert also featured original compositions by our artistic director Gerald Gurss—the first in response to an anti-LGBT hate speech from a pastor in nearby Maiden, North Carolina. The pastor’s speech proposed putting all gays and lesbians behind a large electrified fence and letting them perish. Gerald’s composition, “Silent Night, Maiden,” portrays the power of LGBT voices joined to tear down fences and hatred. It moved concert goers and singers alike. The second composition, addressing the anti-LGBT Chick-Fil-A controversy with a big dose of humor, received national media attention. Here’s a link to that story.
In April, One Voice partnered with the American Guild of Organists for a concert of choral and organ works with British connections, plus “Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle,” a beloved children’s story with a message about unity. Charlotte City Council member LaWana Mayfield narrated “Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle,” while a chamber orchestra accompanied the chorus.
In addition, we offered a special matinee performance of “Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle” that was free to families with children, preceded by arts and crafts time with themes connected to the message of the music. Kids colored pictures of the animals featured in the story and had the actual children’s book version read to them.
Back by popular demand
What do you do to follow two concerts with such meaningful elements of community connection? Let down your hair and have a good time, of course! We wrapped up the season with Hollywood Squares: British Invasion! An audience favorite for three year’s running, the concert featured record attendance at our gorgeous (and larger) new venue at North Carolina Dance Theatre. Hosted by Roxy C. Moorecox as Adele, the show featured music from The Beatles, Queen, the James Bond franchise and even a nod to Monty Python—all held together by an actual game of Hollywood Squares featuring contestants from the audience and “celebrity squares” from our great array of One Voice Sponsors: Drake Dentistry, Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund, One World Dragon Boat, The Rodneys (Tucker & Hines), Stratos Wealth Partners, Southern Country Charlotte, JHG Financial Advisors, Charlotte Royals Rugby Team and Charlotte Pride Band.
Click here to see some photos from the Hollywood Squares: British Invasion concert.
Thanks to all of our dedicated singers and enthusiastic supporters, it was a wonderful concert season, enabling us to raise some of the funds needed to support our deeper mission of social justice for the LGBT community.
Click here to support One Voice’s work on behalf of the LGBT community.